All Blog Posts Tagged 'religion' - Think Atheist2015-08-02T23:26:45Zhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profiles/blog/feed?tag=religion&xn_auth=noWhy Should Atheists Have to Show Respect For Religion?tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2015-03-19:1982180:BlogPost:15249002015-03-19T18:30:00.000ZMaihttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/TanyaReddin
<p>'Among progressive and moderate religious believers, ecumenicalism is a big deal. For many of these believers, being respectful of religious beliefs that are different from theirs is a central guiding principle. In this view, different religions are seen as a beautifully varied tapestry of faith: each strand with its own truths, each with its own unique perspective on God and its own unique way of worshipping him. Her. It. Them. Whatever. Respecting other people's religious beliefs is a…</p>
<p>'Among progressive and moderate religious believers, ecumenicalism is a big deal. For many of these believers, being respectful of religious beliefs that are different from theirs is a central guiding principle. In this view, different religions are seen as a beautifully varied tapestry of faith: each strand with its own truths, each with its own unique perspective on God and its own unique way of worshipping him. Her. It. Them. Whatever. Respecting other people's religious beliefs is a cornerstone of this worldview... to the point where criticizing or even questioning anyone else's religious belief is seen as rude and offensive at best, bigoted and intolerant at worst.</p>
<p>And this ecumenical approach to religion drives many atheists up a tree.'</p>
<p><a href="http://www.alternet.org/belief/why-should-atheists-have-show-respect-religion" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></p>
<p>By Greta Christina for AlterNet</p>Short Term Perfection as the Enemy of Long Time Goodtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2015-03-03:1982180:BlogPost:15193682015-03-03T20:27:38.000ZPope Beaniehttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/PaulRyan
<p>Humans are far from perfect, but generally aspire to perfection. This brings about much progress, but also much grief. Before aspiring to perfection, we must first imagine it, and then weigh its perceived benefits vs costs. And then there's often the question of who's the "we" that will reap the benefits or pay the costs.</p>
<p>Generally, the wider our notion of "we", the less of a zero-sum game we play, while the narrower "we" tends to work selfishly, with less regard for loss to others.…</p>
<p>Humans are far from perfect, but generally aspire to perfection. This brings about much progress, but also much grief. Before aspiring to perfection, we must first imagine it, and then weigh its perceived benefits vs costs. And then there's often the question of who's the "we" that will reap the benefits or pay the costs.</p>
<p>Generally, the wider our notion of "we", the less of a zero-sum game we play, while the narrower "we" tends to work selfishly, with less regard for loss to others. It's often an Us vs Them game, vs an Us <em>plus</em> Them game.</p>
<p>So how did we (or most of us) come this far, to modern times? It's complicated! And long. But one unifier among us has been religion. Sure, it's had its costs, and those costs are now increasing compared to its benefits, because unification by choice is more of a workable option now than unification by force. Religion, secular communism, socialism, and capitalism each have their own advantages. In any case, long-lived perfection has eluded all of us, much less eternal utopia.</p>
<p>So historically, there's always been this intimate link between political/religious power structures, and the goals chosen at large for society and civilization. The religious or religiously affiliated power structures have, for the most part, taken us pretty far, and increasingly rapidly, especially since (say) around 0 A.D.</p>
<p>But now, science and liberal democracy threaten all previous dogmas and traditions. And it has complicated our decision making processes, because wide distributions of expertise are more critical to success than narrow foci of authority. Our penchants for perfection of morality and determining how to achieve it, along with how to choose our goals at large and achieve them must give way to better habits of cognitive reasoning, letting go of mythical and imaginary concepts of perfection.</p>
<p>Spreadsheets and probability calculations don't come naturally to emotionally-anchored forms of human consciousness. Past genetic evolution has optimized us more for short term, sensory/emotionally based behavior, especially in the most intimate group/social contexts. We're not naturally programmed to be intellectual or empirically detailed and motivated. We must now progress beyond imagined authorities and absolute rules for perfect life, but without abdicating a responsibility to keep discussing our bigger pictures and purposes that are more inclusive than exclusive of each other's needs and desires. Imagining perfection and unity in divine authority has taken us far, but cannot sustain humanity in a planet-Earth bound context.</p>
<p></p>Forever Cursedtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2015-02-26:1982180:BlogPost:15186192015-02-26T01:00:00.000ZNerdy Keithhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/keith
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/8KNI8B2SjT2ogTaBus*wbXynD7EVSy*vxD*frFeqDmMh6fR*NYksAsf4HQCEIRAxh*XNJTReqxb5eIeVpM5ZejUN3G65NFys/AbbeyRemains.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/8KNI8B2SjT2ogTaBus*wbXynD7EVSy*vxD*frFeqDmMh6fR*NYksAsf4HQCEIRAxh*XNJTReqxb5eIeVpM5ZejUN3G65NFys/AbbeyRemains.jpg?width=500" width="500"></img></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Forever cursed is how I see organised religion. I call them corrupt or forever cursed, because that is exactly how I see them. They (the institutions) try to make amends by seeming to have mended their ways; but then somehow go back to their roots. Then you see them for what the really are, they…</p>
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<p>Forever cursed is how I see organised religion. I call them corrupt or forever cursed, because that is exactly how I see them. They (the institutions) try to make amends by seeming to have mended their ways; but then somehow go back to their roots. Then you see them for what the really are, they were not trying to change; but trying to manipulate the public as a feeble attempt to sway them. </p>
<p>Now a lot of believers in organised faiths will take this as me attacking them personally. But the truth couldn’t be further. And they may even claim that hating their religion is hating their beliefs and their beliefs make them who they are. Well thats not entirely true either. It may seem that a person’s beliefs is who they are, but its not. Who you are as a person is shaped by the people around you and the experiences in life you have endured (both good and bad). A religious belief tries to dictate to you what to do, what to think, what to feel etc. It is manipulating the individual, stripping them from the core of their individuality and controlling them. It is controlling them to such an extent, that to them; they think its normal to not question certain things or rather trust certain things or ideas without question. They become accustomed to going through life based on fear. Organised religion thrives on fear. That fear causes people to not dare question their faith, in case that questioning is met with the consequence of eternal hellfire, suffering and torture etc. I do not believe that a person is who they are due to their beliefs. I believe they are not their true selves due to those beliefs. That is not to say that they cannot have any individuality at all; while holding beliefs of an organised faith. Many more liberally minded believers can and do balance or rather separate their faith from their everyday life (especially when interacting with others who do not share their faith). Of course those with a stricter interpretation; are less enlightened with such matters</p>
<p>But it is not the individuals fault they are the way the are. They are the victims of a corrupt superstitious organisation. For example, lets say you have friends or family working for a large corporate company. The type of company that pays their employees poorly, exploits them and uses cheap labour to produce their products . Its quite clear to you that this company is corrupt and too arrogant to admit it. But that doesn’t mean you hate your friends or family. In fact you might even understand that they have a dependency to remain in this company in order for them to pay the bills and feed themselves. <br/> <br/> The same goes for religious institutions. They promote so much corruption and hatred. But that doesn’t mean that all their members are like that too. There are lots of Catholics for example who would disagree with the pope. But they depend on their religion, they feel a need for it psychologically. It gives them comfort believing that they get a reward when they die. I’m not saying there is any truth to that belief. But by believing it; it helps them get through life. I understand that and I sympathise with these people a great deal. </p>
<p>But this does not change the fact that organised religion is corrupt to the core or “forever cursed” as I say. Never evolving, never growing in philosophy, never expanding knowledge. Because they wont allow such things to occur, they wrongfully believe they are an authority and that they obtain ultimate knowledge and truth. A claim that not even the greatest scientific mind the world has ever known would dare to claim. Because if he or she did; they would be corrupt and wilfully dishonest. </p>
<p>So if anything I don’t necessarily hate theists. I just hate their upper management; which is corrupt.</p>The Bible According to Bradtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2014-08-20:1982180:BlogPost:14853082014-08-20T03:49:19.000ZBrad Snowderhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BradSnowder
<a href="http://skywiseunlimited.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/feature_index21.jpg"><img alt="Table of Contents" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4128" height="200" src="http://skywiseunlimited.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/feature_index21.jpg" width="540"></img></a><br />
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>GENESIS</b></span><br></br> <a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/01/05/in-the-big-inning/">01:01 Adam &amp; Eve</a> <i>In the Big Inning</i>
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/01/19/raising-cain/">04:01 Cain &amp; Abel</a> <i>Don't bring God fruits…</i><br />
</p>
<a href="http://skywiseunlimited.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/feature_index21.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4128" src="http://skywiseunlimited.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/feature_index21.jpg" alt="Table of Contents" width="540" height="200"/></a><br />
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>GENESIS</b></span><br/>
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/01/05/in-the-big-inning/">01:01 Adam &amp; Eve</a> <i>In the Big Inning</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/01/19/raising-cain/">04:01 Cain &amp; Abel</a> <i>Don't bring God fruits</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/01/25/were-gonna-need-a-bigger-boat/">06:07 Noah's Ark</a> <i>We're gonna need a bigger boat</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/02/01/she-works-hard-for-the-money/">11:10 Abram &amp; Sarai</a> <i>She works hard for the money</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/02/08/if-i-knew-you-were-coming-id-have-baked-a-cake/">18:01 Sodom &amp; Gomorrah</a> <i>If I knew that you were coming</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/02/15/where-you-want-this-killing-done/">20:01 Sacrificing Isaac</a> <i>Where you want this killing done?</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/02/23/no-soup-for-you/">23:01 Jacob &amp; Esau</a> <i>No Soup For You</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/02/29/the-good-wife/">28:10 Rachel &amp; Leah</a> <i>The Good Wife</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/03/06/dude-nice-coat/">37:01 Joseph's Coat</a> <i>Dude, Nice Coat</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/03/13/you-can-be-in-my-dream-if-i-can-be-in-yours/">39:20 Pharaoh's Dream</a> <i>You can be in my dream if I can be in yours</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>EXODUS</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/03/18/i-yam-what-i-yam/">01:01 Baby Moses</a> <i>I Yam What I Yam</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/03/22/i-feel-so-broke-up-i-want-to-go-home/">05:01 Ten Plagues</a> <i>I feel so broke up I want to go home</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/03/25/god-is-into-war/">12:43 Parting the Sea</a> <i>God is into War</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/04/01/rules-are-rules/">20:01 Ten Commandments</a> <i>Rules are Rules</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/04/08/golden-cow/">32:01 Worshiping Baal</a> <i>Golden Cow</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>LEVITICUS</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/04/15/the-show-must-go-on/">01:01 The Tabernacle</a> <i>The Show Must Go On</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/04/22/my-way-or-the-highway/">18:01 Mosaic Law</a> <i>My way or the highway</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>NUMBERS</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/04/29/a-special-promise/">01:01 Ark of the Covenant</a> <i>A Special Promise</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/05/06/conspiracy/">11:01 Twelve Spies</a> <i>Conspiracy</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/05/13/a-talking-donkey/">15:01 Balaam's Ass</a> <i>A Talking Donkey</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/05/20/rape-and-pillage/">25:01 Joshua Anointed</a> <i>Rape and Pillage</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>DEUTERONOMY</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/05/27/wicked-and-doomed/">01:01 The Second Law</a> <i>Wicked and Doomed</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/06/03/rock-on-moses/">31:19 Song of Moses</a> <i>Rock On Moses</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>JOSHUA</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/06/10/milk-and-a-little-honey/">01:01 Battle of Jericho</a> <i>Milk and a Little Honey</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/06/17/astronomy-101/">07:03 Battle of Gibeon</a> <i>Astronomy 101</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>JUDGES</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/06/24/order-in-the-court/">01:01 Ehud and Deborah</a> <i>Order in the Court</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/07/01/its-not-a-perfect-science/">06:01 Gideon's Fleece</a> <i>It's not a perfect science</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/07/08/the-branch-manager/">09:01 Abimelech and Jephthah</a> <i>The Branch Manager</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/07/15/the-lion-the-switch-and-thirty-wardrobes/">13:03 Samson and the Foxes</a> <i>The Lion, the Switch, and Thirty Wardrobes</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/07/22/let-your-freak-flag-fly/">16:04 Samson and Delilah</a> <i>Let Your Freak Flag Fly</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Ruth</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/07/29/the-perfect-woman/">01:01 Ruth and Naomi</a> <i>The Perfect Woman</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>SAMUEL I</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/05/the-man-who-would-be-kingmaker/">01:01 Samuel and Saul</a> <i>The man who would be kingmaker</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/12/a-lucky-shot/">16:12 David and Goliath</a> <i>A Lucky Shot</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/19/are-you-a-good-witch-or-a-bad-witch/">22:01 David and Saul</a> <i>Are you a good witch or a bad witch?</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>SAMUEL II</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/26/splish-splash/">01:01 Bathsheba</a> <i>Splish Splash</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Kings I</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/09/01/dont-be-such-a-big-baby/">01:01 King Solomon</a> <i>Don't be Such a Big Baby</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/09/09/a-dog-eat-dog-world/">11:28 Elijah and Ahab</a> <i>A Dog Eat Dog World</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Kings II</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/09/16/with-a-grain-of-salt/">01:01 Elisha</a> <i>With a Grain of Salt</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/09/23/off-with-their-heads/">08:01 The Fall of Jerusalem</a> <i>Off With Their Heads</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Ezra</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/09/30/the-go-backs-and-the-left-behinders/">01:01 Post Exile Jerusalem</a> <i>The Go-Backs and the Left-Behinders</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Nehemiah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/10/07/sword-and-hammer/">01:01 Rebuilding the Temple</a> <i>Sword and Hammer</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Esther</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/10/14/sexism-and-the-city/">01:01 Esther and Mordecai</a> <i>Sexism and the City</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Job</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/10/21/the-game/">01:01 Testing Job</a> <i>The Game</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/10/28/the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/">08:01 Job's Friends</a> <i>The Good, The Bad, and the Fugly</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/11/04/the-last-laugh/">19:01 God and Job</a> <i>The Last Laugh</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Psalms</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/11/11/catchy-lyrics/">01:01 Hymns of the Lyre</a> <i>Catchy Lyrics</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Proverbs</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/11/18/free-advice/">01:01 Wisdom of Solomon</a> <i>Free Advice</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Ecclesiastes</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/11/25/happy-happy-joy-joy/">01:01 The Preacher</a> <i>Happy Happy Joy Joy</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Song of Solomon</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/12/02/an-old-fashioned-love-song/">01:01 The Love Poem</a> <i>An Old Fashioned Love Song</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Isaiah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/12/09/woe-to-the-world/">01:01 Prophecy of Doom</a> <i>Woe to the World</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Jeremiah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/12/16/cry-baby-cry/">01:01 Lamentations</a> <i>Cry Baby Cry</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/12/23/haters-gonna-hate/">20:01 Prophecy of Captivity</a> <i>Haters Gonna Hate</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Ezekiel</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/12/30/no-cake-for-me-thanks/">01:01 The Son of Man</a> <i>No Cake for Me Thanks</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/01/06/dem-dry-bones/">18:01 The Valley of Dry Bones</a> <i>Dem Dry Bones</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Daniel</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/01/13/but-its-a-dry-heat/">01:01 The Fiery Furnace</a> <i>But it's a Dry Heat</i><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/01/20/dont-eat-me-bro/">04:04 The Lion's Den</a> <i>Don't Eat Me Bro</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Hosea</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/01/27/like-your-mom/">01:02 Reaping the Whirlwind</a> <i>Like Your Mom</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Joel</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/02/03/bugs-and-worms/">01:01 Valley of Jehoshaphat</a> <i>Bugs and Worms</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Amos</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/02/10/burn-ban-lifted/">01:01 Judgement Day</a> <i>Burn Ban Lifted</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Obadiah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/02/17/free-slaves/">01:01 Cursing the Edomites</a> <i>Free Slaves</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Jonah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/02/24/the-one-that-got-away/">01:01 Jonah and the Whale</a> <i>The One That Got Away</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Micah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/03/03/howl-and-go-naked/">01:01 Wrath of God</a> <i>Howl and go Naked</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Nahum</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/03/10/a-day-in-the-sun/">01:01 The Vengeance of God</a> <i>A Day in the Sun</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Habukkuk</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/03/17/be-afraid/">01:01 Fear of God</a> <i>Be Afraid</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Zephaniah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/03/24/have-a-nice-day/">01:01 Day of the Lord</a> <i>Have a Nice Day</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Haggai</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/03/31/permit-approved/">01:01 Zerubbabel and the Temple</a> <i>Permit Approved</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Zechariah</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/04/07/young-beer-and-fresh-women/">01:01 Vision of Zion</a> <i>Young Beer and Fresh Women</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;"><b>Malachi</b></span><br />
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2013/04/14/lovers-and-haters/">01:01 The Curse</a> <i>Lovers and Haters</i></p>When a Jehovah's Witness Grows Up to be an Atheisttag:www.thinkatheist.com,2014-05-29:1982180:BlogPost:14615482014-05-29T20:49:47.000ZM.M.J. Gregoryhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/MuggleinConverse
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<p>After all this time, all these years, all these degrees of separation - a mere knock guides me to shedded enemies. It was midmorning when a pair of shadows alerted me to some unexpected presences. I think I knew before I knew, my gut clenching beyond the usual spasm of social anxiety.</p>
<p>The blockers of the light lingered and adjusted themselves and finally put knuckle to…</p>
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<p>After all this time, all these years, all these degrees of separation - a mere knock guides me to shedded enemies. It was midmorning when a pair of shadows alerted me to some unexpected presences. I think I knew before I knew, my gut clenching beyond the usual spasm of social anxiety.</p>
<p>The blockers of the light lingered and adjusted themselves and finally put knuckle to wood. I rearranged loose hairs and wished I had showered for the day and briefly considered not answering, but I was already at the door and well...why not? I opened the front door and wedged myself between it and the wall to keep the cats in and the nonsense out.</p>
<p>I had eaten recently but all feeling of fullness fled when my suspicions were confirmed, leaving behind only a tingly vacancy. Jehovah's Witnesses were standing before me. A childhood's worth of memories knocking on strangers' doors and spilling out formulated speeches came back. I did it into my teenage years, but I never got old enough to get the door slammed in my face. I resisted the urge to do so to the man and woman who were beaming at the sight of an open door, an opportunity.</p>
<p><em>I know you weren't expecting us this morning.</em><br/>Little did she know I hold my breath every time there's a knock I don't anticipate.</p>
<p>Living in apartments, Witness sightings are usually limited to random literature in laundry rooms. (Which I always take the time to deposit into recycling bins in hope that the deceased trees will go to better use.)</p>
<p>But here they were, offering a pamphlet and asking a question.<br/><em>Who do you think controls the world?</em></p>
<p>I blanked. What kind of bollocks question is that? Are we talking weather patterns and gravity? Politics and no-fly lists? Who controls the world? What on earth does that mean?</p>
<p>The woman repeated the question as the man thumbed through his Bible. I gaped, trying to find a way out of the carefully set trap. The man asked again as he found the scripture he wanted. I said it would depend on what we're talking about, I needed specifics.</p>
<p>They held up another pamphlet, identical to the one I held in my hand. It had three options. Of course it did. No open ended questions, lead all the way. My preapproved answers were: God, humankind, or someone else.</p>
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<p>Without actually reading the scripture, the man said that the Bible tells us that the Devil is in control. He asked if I agreed, clearly thinking I would.</p>
<p>Instead I told him that I have relatives that are Witnesses, that I grew up in it. (<em>Oh, they are my Sisters! And you will be again too, eh?</em>) I told them that I was an atheist. Back in my door knocking days I think this would have raised an eyebrow, but they took it in stride. Maybe it's a more common response now? I can hope.</p>
<p>He chose the complimentary route and said that most people that identify that way are <em>big thinkers</em> - whatever that means. He asked how I had come to the conclusion. I told them I didn't think much about religion from when I stopped going to meetings as a teenager up until I had kids. (<em>Oh, you have kids!</em> I think he sensed bait.) I said I went looking and didn't find any answers or evidence - not a single reason to believe in a God.</p>
<p>Evidence has always been one of those buzzwords and he latched on to it. <em>Oh, but the evidence of Creation is all around us.</em> I think he meant to gesture to the sky, but it landed on the adjacent building which is highlighted with bird poop-like primer in anticipation of an upcoming paint job.</p>
<p>I think he could tell that wasn't a winning strategy, so he went back to the scent he had picked up earlier. <em>Didn't you think having your babies</em> (he held out his hands to mimic a swollen pregnant belly - his manner was really quite endearing), <em>don't you think your children are a miracle? </em></p>
<p>I smiled. I love Boots and Bubba. In my life, in my everyday, they are extraordinary. But inexplicable by natural or scientific laws they are not. I shook my head and simply answered no. This brought the woman back into the conversation, but not with words. She gasped abhorrently. A mother unwilling to call her children miracles was simply too much. She was only in the corner of my eye, but I saw the shocked expression she wore. It had settled by the time my head turned.</p>
<p>The man smiled, told me his name, asked mine, and shook my hand. The woman offered her name and hand. They encouraged me to take a look at the pamphlet and went on their way.</p>
<p>I shut my door and gently locked it.</p>
<p>My son had not lingered at the door like he usually does for deliverers of pizza, but I had seen his hand at the blinds. He asked who was at the door, what they wanted. Just a man and a woman, I told him; They wanted to talk about what they believed. He was satisfied, moving on to another of the approximately 874 questions he asks each day.</p>
<p>Once his voice quieted, I took stock of myself. My stomach still felt abandoned. Holding up my palm, I saw without surprise that it was shaking. All this time, all these years, so many false degrees of separation later - I am still a child dissatisfied with their answers.</p>
<p>Their buildings are modest, their funds are not. Their beliefs are lowly, their lies lofty. Their army is filled with kind, loving <em>Brothers and Sisters </em>waiting to welcome me home, infiltrating the one I have made for myself. My blog is tiny and their website is translatable into languages I can't pronounce.</p>
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<p>They scare me.</p>
<p>Not the believers - the beliefs. They knock on my door, but prey on the hearts of others. Jehovah's Witnesses are only one sect of one religion of three of hundreds of thousands.</p>
<p>I am small, but I speak. I speak so there is a voice besides their own.</p>
<p><em>Originally Published on <a href="http://mmjgwrites.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Wary Wonderlust</a></em></p>Is government a more powerful force than love?tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2014-05-25:1982180:BlogPost:14608322014-05-25T05:00:00.000ZAndy Hokehttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/AndyHoke
<p>I didn't join this site to take other people's words out of my mouth.</p>
<p>I attempted to emphasize the importance of love amid the current trend of legalized gay marriage. I'm not anonymous, so anyone can go to Facebook to verify my support of my gay friends' new marriage intentions.</p>
<p>Marriage is a much older religious institution than a governmental one, and marriage is younger than love. Tell me ThinkAtheist, does law matter more than love?</p>
<p>I didn't join this site to take other people's words out of my mouth.</p>
<p>I attempted to emphasize the importance of love amid the current trend of legalized gay marriage. I'm not anonymous, so anyone can go to Facebook to verify my support of my gay friends' new marriage intentions.</p>
<p>Marriage is a much older religious institution than a governmental one, and marriage is younger than love. Tell me ThinkAtheist, does law matter more than love?</p>We Are All Humaniststag:www.thinkatheist.com,2014-04-12:1982180:BlogPost:14490022014-04-12T16:00:00.000ZNerdy Keithhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/keith
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<p>The purpose of this blog is only of the intention to lay the cards on the table so to speak in order to avoid any confusions or inconsistencies that may be assumed. <br></br> <br></br> Firstly I have always held the greatest deal of respect for the atheist community, especially for its opinions and stances on organised religion. I am still of the opinion that organised (or rather…</p>
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<p>The purpose of this blog is only of the intention to lay the cards on the table so to speak in order to avoid any confusions or inconsistencies that may be assumed. <br/> <br/> Firstly I have always held the greatest deal of respect for the atheist community, especially for its opinions and stances on organised religion. I am still of the opinion that organised (or rather revolved religion) is corrupt to the core from its very foundations. Too long have such institutions crusaded their tyrannies against those who don't share their beliefs. Too long have they tried to fuse their beliefs and ethos into political policies. Too long have many members of such faiths promoted their sexist, homophobic, and oppressive viewpoints and not just voice these as opinions but irrationally act upon them. No matter what my opinions may change to as I grow older. I will never bow down before such organisations of depravity, oppression, sheer corruption and attack on human decency. </p>
<p>As a humanist I believe in treating others as I wish to be treated. I believe that there is common good in most people and even in other species of the animal kingdom. I believe that believing in common good in humanity can influence bringing it about and if we all strive for this attitude humanity may very well one day become unified more than ever. </p>
<p>With that said, I will now cut to the chase. I have re-embraced deism again (or converted if you prefer that term). Personally I like to think of it as simply a change of mind, an altering of opinion etc. Some people are a little confused to what deism (or a deist) is exactly, so I shall explain. </p>
<p>Deists believe in a first cause, (or God of Nature as some of use like to call it). The God of Nature is believed to have been the first causing bridging about the formation of the cosmos. But the God of Nature is not believed by most deists to interfere with the universe. The God of nature is a creator and not a dominator. Unlike members of revelled religions (I say revealed religions to differentiate between deists, as most of us don't believe in a revealed God) we do not have a book of scripture, no house of worship. To us the world around us, the very idea of nature itself is the bases of our faith. It is a faith based on reason alone, along with some understanding of science. <br/> <br/> There are basically three types of deists today; <br/> <br/> <span><strong>Classical Deism</strong> - A personal God exists and has an intelligence and a will. God created the universe for a purpose. Although God does not intervene in the universe, God cares. Believe in an afterlife. This is classical English deism.</span><br/> <br/> <span><strong>Modern Deism</strong> - An indifferent God exists and has an intelligence and a will. God does not care about the fate of the universe. Do not believe in an afterlife.</span><br/> <br/> <span><strong>Post-Modern Deism</strong> - An impersonal God exists, that is basically just a force. God does not possess conscious intelligence or will. Do not believe in an afterlife.</span></p>
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<p><span>Some of these sub categories of deism may seem like a contradiction in terms but please note that deism as a belief system evolves (which actually makes it a much more rational belief system compared to others). Personally I am more inclined to believe in modern deism. Classical deism seems too far fetched for me at this point, post-modern deism seems unlikely to me whereas modern deism just makes more sense to me. It makes more sense to me because philosophically speaking if the God I believe in does in fact exist, it stands to reason that such a being would require intelligence to design the systematic laws of nature that govern the universe in its very specific order. I do accept scientific explanations such as the big bang and </span>evolution. I believe the big bang is what God used as the mechanism to get the ball rolling (I believe it to be God's start button if you will). And evolution I believe is the mechanism designed by God in order to code nature to grow, adapt and survive. <br/> <br/> So that is what I believe in this very moment in time. I don't want anyone to feel angry or threatened by this. Just know that there are still a great many issues I agree with you on (since most of you are secular humanists). I just took a different path to you on this one issue. The really important concerts for us all, is the portion of allowing secularism flourish, continuing to promote separation of state and church (especially outside of the States where this is not the case). Most importantly, equality and human decency. At the end of the day we all want to be free people don't we?</p>
<p>Please note, that I will not be allowing comments on this blog, based on my experience of what happened the last time I embraced deism and shared this. I wasn't entirely sure if it was a good idea to share my current beliefs on Think Atheist at all, and possibly won't be discussing it much in the future. Also because I am still learning about my beliefs and discovering new ideas and so forth. Most importantly I'm not allowing comments because this is not being posted with the intent of debating, but just as a clarification of my thought and a record of honesty. So for those of you who have taken the trouble to read this blog and found it somewhat interesting, I thank you for your time and appreciation. </p>Atheists response to dyingtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2014-04-08:1982180:BlogPost:14478382014-04-08T06:46:52.000ZPhilip Jarretthttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/PhilipJarrett829
<p>I have two people dying in my life.</p>
<p>One is my brother-in-law who is finally paying the piper for a life spent in disregard for the future. Liver failure and the shutting down of all the processes of the body as alcoholism takes it toll.</p>
<p>The other is my Mother who is lying in the hospital tonight. She's confused and frightened and all she can say, over and over again, is "heaven and hell" or is it "heaven or hell", it's hard to tell.</p>
<p>My brother-in-law is a Jehovah's…</p>
<p>I have two people dying in my life.</p>
<p>One is my brother-in-law who is finally paying the piper for a life spent in disregard for the future. Liver failure and the shutting down of all the processes of the body as alcoholism takes it toll.</p>
<p>The other is my Mother who is lying in the hospital tonight. She's confused and frightened and all she can say, over and over again, is "heaven and hell" or is it "heaven or hell", it's hard to tell.</p>
<p>My brother-in-law is a Jehovah's Witness...or at least, that's the religion he was entrapped in. JW's believe in predestination...that is to say, certain people are assigned to Heaven upon birth no matter what they do in live and others are destined to hell no matter how they live their lives. It's a hard one, but all lies that say you are going to survive physical extinction are. Not surprising. When you are trying to invent an afterlife in spite of the preponderance of data proving when we die it's all over...everything that has lived has died. If you don't see this as proof that all the fantasies of an afterlife then you need to turn in your rational faculties at the door. </p>
<p>Right now, he's enjoying the comfort of the animals in his life...a feral cat and a stray dog...without anything supporting or understanding from his religion...rule number one is "Christians Lie"...get that through your thick skull if you want to deal with them. Personally, I've give up.</p>
<p>My brother-in-law I'm glad he's got his animals for comfort. My wife and I try to help, symptomatically as they say, is to try and keep him stoned...damn the alcohol industry in this country for keeping him from the only comfort available, Otherwise, he's dying alone and terrified. Christianity makes promises that it doesn't keep. Only atheism...and by that I mean acknowledging your own mortality...can help him now but he's so screwed up by religion he doesn't see that.</p>
<p>My mother was taken into the hospital over the weekend. It hurts me deeply being with her every day, knowing the only peace she'll know is dying and acknowledging her own mortality will take the sting out of dying. Instead, I'm down there every night listening to her say over and over again in her confusion and delirium "Heaven and Hell."</p>
<p>Why should someone who has dedicated her life to the Church go to her death worrying about her eternal salvation? </p>
<p>Yet there she is...and millions of others infected with the disease of religion...going to her death in an agony of indecision and doubt.</p>
<p>Only atheism tells us that when we die we're dead all over.</p>
<p>Only atheism says accept your own mortality if you want to have peace in you life.</p>
<p>Only atheism can truly comfort the dying.</p>
<p>That's what kills me about Christians who claim they offer a solution to the problem of Mortality. They offer nothing. They pile up grief and guilt on people who, in the final stages of their existence, are most vulnerable to their lies.</p>
<p>I am being ripped apart...I am an emotional wreck...I doubt I will be able to get through this...</p>
<p>I am not some person talking philosophy or theology.</p>
<p>I am a real person who has two people he loves very much who are dying.</p>
<p>And I am fucking furious about what religion is doing to these people I love.</p>
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<p></p>The Constitution is an atheistic document.tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2014-03-15:1982180:BlogPost:14413402014-03-15T16:56:59.000ZDuane Smithhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/DuaneSmith
<p>This recent quote by former House Majority Leader Tom Delay shocked me. “<b><i>I think we got off the track when we allowed our government to become a secular government,” DeLay </i></b><a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/delay-americans-have-forgotten-god-wrote-constitution" target="_hplink"><b><i>told</i></b></a><b><i> host Matthew Hagee, the executive pastor of the Texas Cornerstone Church. “[W]e stopped realizing that God created this nation, that he wrote the Constitution,…</i></b></p>
<p>This recent quote by former House Majority Leader Tom Delay shocked me. “<b><i>I think we got off the track when we allowed our government to become a secular government,” DeLay </i></b><a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/delay-americans-have-forgotten-god-wrote-constitution" target="_hplink"><b><i>told</i></b></a><b><i> host Matthew Hagee, the executive pastor of the Texas Cornerstone Church. “[W]e stopped realizing that God created this nation, that he wrote the Constitution, that it’s based on biblical principles</i></b>.” That would have been dangerous talk in the days during which our country was founded. As Thomas Jefferson put it bluntly, <b><i>“Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.”<a title=""><b>[1]</b></a></i></b></p>
<p>Mr. Delay, the United States Constitution was written by men. Fifty five men to be precise and thirty nine of them would eventually sign it, representing 12 of the 13 states, as Rhode Island did not send a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. John Adams wrote, <b><i>“Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence (sic) of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.”</i></b> <a title="">[2]</a> Among the religious interests represented were Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Quakers and Catholics, as well as a Deist or two. These men, all well-educated and of strikingly diverse backgrounds, each had concerns for the potential of a single, state endorsed religion above all others as well as protecting each individual’s natural right to religious expression. They were not far removed in time from the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition and were keenly aware of recent excesses of fanatical devotion. <b><i>“Some very worthy persons, who have not had great advantages for information, have objected against that clause in the constitution which provides, that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. They have been afraid that this clause is unfavorable to religion. But my countrymen, the sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution, and to secure to you the important right of religious liberty. We are almost the only people in the world, who have a full enjoyment of this important right of human nature. In our country every man has a right to worship God in that way which is most agreeable to his conscience. If he be a good and peaceable person he is liable to no penalties or incapacities on account of his religious sentiments; or in other words, he is not subject to persecution. But in other parts of the world, it has been, and still is, far different. Systems of religious error have been adopted, in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates, to maintain these errors. When the clouds of ignorance began to vanish, and the people grew more enlightened, there was no other way to keep them in error, but to prohibit their altering their religious opinions by severe persecuting laws. In this way persecution became general throughout</i></b> <b><i>Europe.”</i></b> <a title="">[3]</a>. Alexander Hamilton’s grandfather was, in fact, a French Huguenot who fled France to avoid persecution by King Louis XIV, for simply being Protestant. </p>
<p> Intellectual advancements, such as the scientific method transformed the mystical arts of alchemy into modern chemistry and physics, turned eccentric wizard into respected scientist and ushered in a new age of inquiry and debate. They were witness to an awakening in the world that freed many from the slavery of blind faith and they understood the power of reason, observation and above all else, education. This wisdom allowed these intelligent, worldly men to devise a system of government that relied on the natural grace and integrity of humankind itself as a foundation for a civil society. <b><i>“The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature; and if men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves of artifice, imposture, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. Although the detail of the formation of the American governments is at present little known or regarded either in Europe or in America, it may hereafter become an object of curiosity. It will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of Heaven, more than those at work upon ships or houses, or laboring in merchandise or agriculture; it will forever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses.”</i></b> <a title="">[4]</a></p>
<p>One of the most esteemed and honored figures of the time was Thomas Jefferson who professed his strongly held beliefs in a simple and concise manner. <b><i>“I am for freedom of religion and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another.”<a title=""><b>[5]</b></a></i></b> He was a man who studied philosophy, history, geology, botany, and was curious about everything. Although author and signatory of many historically famous documents, he listed the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom one of his proudest accomplishments, second of three that he wished to be listed on his headstone. </p>
<p>So what happened? Apathy? Ignorance? Lack of interest? Why are we facing more and more religious tests, exceptions, exemptions and allowances, including continued tax-exempt status for churches, when these impulses for theocracy were foreseen and warned against strongly by our very own founders? Said the Connecticut Delegate, Oliver Wolcott, of what has come to be known as the Establishment Clause, <b><i>“Knowledge and liberty are so prevalent in this country, that I do not believe that the United States would ever be disposed to establish one religious sect, and lay all others under legal disabilities. But as we know not what may take place hereafter, and any such test would be exceedingly injurious to the rights of free citizens, I cannot think it altogether superfluous to have added a clause, which secures us from the possibility of such oppression.”<a title=""><b>[6]</b></a></i></b></p>
<p>Well said, sir. And oppression is what would ensue if current forces are allowed to continue their shadowy usurpation of power. From the Dominion movement in Evangelical Christianity to Christian militia groups in the Pacific Northwest and around the country, reaction to society’s progress by those unhappy with that progress is increasingly militant and fearful. As these populations continue to lose influence and long held privileges, Americans will have to be extra vigilant that religion never succeeds in taking over the reins of governance. Sorry Mr. Delay, you were wrong about almost everything else in your political career and you are most definitely wrong on this.</p>
<div><br clear="all"/><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"/><div><p><a title="">[1]</a> Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814</p>
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<div><p><a title="">[2]</a> John Adams, “A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America” (1787-88)</p>
<p> </p>
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<div><p><a title="">[3]</a> Oliver Ellsworth, Philip B Kurland and Ralph Lerner (eds.), The Founder’s Constitution, University of Chicago Press, 1987, Vol. 4, p. 638</p>
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<div><p><a title="">[4]</a> John Adams, “A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America” 1787-1788</p>
<p> </p>
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<div><p><a title="">[5]</a> Thomas Jefferson, letter to Elbridge Gerry, January 26, 1799</p>
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<div><p><a title="">[6]</a> Oliver Wolcott, Connecticut Ratifying Convention, 9 January 1788</p>
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</div>Episode 18: Religious Rights or Preferential Treatment (Part 2/2)tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2014-01-02:1982180:BlogPost:14214702014-01-02T18:11:04.000ZFacts Before Faithhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/FactsBeforeFaith
<p><strong>In This Episode: (Warning! Potentially Offensive Content! As usual.)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span><b>Religious prisoners sue for ceremonial food.</b></span></li>
<li><b>Muslim prisoners sue for 5 prayers a day.</b></li>
<li><strong>Woman sues United States Council of Bishops for directing Catholic hospitals to put religious beliefs above her safety.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Reoccurring</b><strong> Segments:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Who Said…</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>In This Episode: (Warning! Potentially Offensive Content! As usual.)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span><b>Religious prisoners sue for ceremonial food.</b></span></li>
<li><b>Muslim prisoners sue for 5 prayers a day.</b></li>
<li><strong>Woman sues United States Council of Bishops for directing Catholic hospitals to put religious beliefs above her safety.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Reoccurring</b><strong> Segments:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Who Said That</strong></li>
<li><span><b>Vacuous Signs for Religious Minds</b></span></li>
<li><strong>Outtakes</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>**Note** Leave comments through the COMMENTS &amp; CORRECTIONS page. Not through the link below the audio player. Thanks!</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>You can listen to the podcast through:</p>
<p>iTunes</p>
<p><a href="http://www.factsbeforefaith.com">www.factsbeforefaith.com</a></p>
<p>Right Here: </p>
<p><a href="http://media.blubrry.com/factsbeforefaith/www.factsbeforefaith.com/podcasts/FactsBeforeFaith_Ep18.mp3" target="_blank">Click Here to Download Episode</a></p>We're an atheist podcast from Michigan...tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-12-20:1982180:BlogPost:14179062013-12-20T18:00:00.000ZFacts Before Faithhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/FactsBeforeFaith
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/A8I8pebmYzr5jY93osNIgbgdrBIHG7cU0rt3becX6Gv6dZyrF5UrzorO8pG2z*VE-tKaXMKq7AATgUx3P9roKHQY50ayCy-H/FactsBeforeFaith_Logo_Twitter.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/A8I8pebmYzr5jY93osNIgbgdrBIHG7cU0rt3becX6Gv6dZyrF5UrzorO8pG2z*VE-tKaXMKq7AATgUx3P9roKHQY50ayCy-H/FactsBeforeFaith_Logo_Twitter.jpg?width=750" width="750"></img></a> We're an atheist podcast from Michigan. Facts Before Faith asks you to get the facts before putting your faith in ideas, institutions or individuals. <br></br> <br></br> The show started out a in 2011 as a way for me to document my departure from religion. It was rather cathartic. Now I have co-hosts and…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/A8I8pebmYzr5jY93osNIgbgdrBIHG7cU0rt3becX6Gv6dZyrF5UrzorO8pG2z*VE-tKaXMKq7AATgUx3P9roKHQY50ayCy-H/FactsBeforeFaith_Logo_Twitter.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/A8I8pebmYzr5jY93osNIgbgdrBIHG7cU0rt3becX6Gv6dZyrF5UrzorO8pG2z*VE-tKaXMKq7AATgUx3P9roKHQY50ayCy-H/FactsBeforeFaith_Logo_Twitter.jpg?width=750" width="750"/></a>We're an atheist podcast from Michigan. Facts Before Faith asks you to get the facts before putting your faith in ideas, institutions or individuals. <br/> <br/> The show started out a in 2011 as a way for me to document my departure from religion. It was rather cathartic. Now I have co-hosts and the show is a lot more informative and entertaining. We talk religion, politics and LGBTQ rights.<br/> <br/> You can listen to us on iTunes or at:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.factsbeforefaith.com">www.factsbeforefaith.com</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Please rate us on iTunes and feel free to leave feedback on our Comments &amp; Corrections page.<br/> <br/> Thanks!</p>Reality Isn't Up for Debatetag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-12-06:1982180:BlogPost:14618132013-12-06T21:00:00.000ZM.M.J. Gregoryhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/MuggleinConverse
<p><a href="http://thesuperstitiousnakedape.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">John Zande</a> wrote a <a href="http://atheistenquiry.org/2013/10/17/q-why-are-you-so-concerned-about-religion-as-an-atheist-you-dont-believe-in-god-so-why-bother-concerning-yourself-with-religion-part-two/" target="_blank">fantastic post</a> about why atheists care about religion. In it, he addressed the idea that a comfortable lie should take precedence over potentially uncomfortable truths. I've written…</p>
<p><a href="http://thesuperstitiousnakedape.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">John Zande</a> wrote a <a href="http://atheistenquiry.org/2013/10/17/q-why-are-you-so-concerned-about-religion-as-an-atheist-you-dont-believe-in-god-so-why-bother-concerning-yourself-with-religion-part-two/" target="_blank">fantastic post</a> about why atheists care about religion. In it, he addressed the idea that a comfortable lie should take precedence over potentially uncomfortable truths. I've written<a href="http://mmjgwrites.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/life-is-but-a-momentary-glimpse-of-the-wonder-of-this-astonishing-universe-and-it-is-sad-to-see-so-many-dreaming-it-away-on-spiritual-fantasy-carl-sagan/" target="_blank"> a little bit</a> about why I think religious lies aren't worth the comfort they bring. John put an interesting twist on the issue which made me think about popular culture. The stories that populate the mainstream, especially movies, constantly reward blind faith and vilify rationally thinking characters. It's a trend that agitates me endlessly.</p>
<p>Due to the two little heathens in my home, I watch an awful lot of children's television. Let me tell you, the storylines that honor faith and decry skepticism start young. Two that immediately come to mind deal with Santa and fairies.</p>
<p><a href="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/the_polar_express-008.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-936 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/the_polar_express-008.jpg?w=470" alt="the_polar_express-008" width="470" height="376"/></a></p>
<p><em>The Polar Express</em> tells the story of a young boy that is growing out of the impressionable age where the existence of Santa is a given. After falling asleep while researching the topic, he wakes to discover a magical train outside his house. Along with a handful of other children, he travels to the North Pole. He sees elves and gets a behind the scenes look at Santa's operation. Even so, he doesn't truly believe until he sees the man himself among all the holiday splendor. Only then can he hear the thunderous bells ringing on Santa's sleigh, one of which is given to him as a present.</p>
<p>While his parents, the unbelievers, cannot hear the tinkling of the silver bell, he and his sister can. The last line of the movie drives the point home, "At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah [his sister] found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe."</p>
<p><em>Polar</em> encourages blind faith in two ways. First, when the boy was skeptical, he was called a liar by his own father and scared by a Scrooge puppet. The audience is led to pity him. Social pressure is one of the quickest ways to silence dissenting thought. The parting line implies that the unbelievers are less for having lost their faith. The main character was given ample proof, but the others were not. Should they trust his personal experience without any further evidence? Of course not. But who wants to be stodgy cynic when you can be the special one?</p>
<p><a href="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/tinker.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-940 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/tinker.jpg" alt="tinker" width="464" height="347"/></a></p>
<p><em>Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue</em> is more open in its condemnation of science and disbelief. Lizzie is the daughter of a preoccupied scientist. She has an obsession with fairies, which her father tells her are not real. It isn't long before Lizzy meets Tinker Bell, a flesh and blood flying fairy. She wants to share her discovery with her father, but is afraid that he would treat Tink like the insects he displays in glass cases.</p>
<p>Instead, she does something very scientific. (Yay for silver linings!) Lizzie works with Tink to create a research journal, recording all of the information about fairy life that she possibly can. The grumpy, unlikable father is too busy to even look at her research. Later, he throws away her drawings and journal in a fit of anger. Tink reveals herself to show him the truth, leading to another fairy being captured. Eventually, Lizzie is able to convince her father to free the fairy and their relationship is better than ever before.</p>
<p>Lizzy's belief goes against the status quo and her story takes the martyr path. She believes despite the odds and ends up being validated, but only after being terrorized by her own father. Only when the father/scientist is transformed by belief does he do anything kind. The message is clear: fight for your beliefs, the doubters are vile and wrong. But again, this child was given special knowledge.</p>
<p>While (most) adults know that neither Santa or fairies exist, most children are actively encouraged to believe. These movies, and others like them, tell them to have faith in what they cannot see.<em> Sure, you may never meet Santa or capture a fairy, but someone has.</em> It isn't hard to see how these stories hard-wire the children that watch them for a lifetime of religious belief. The same trope is present in a lot of media - believe in what you cannot see and perhaps one day you will. Hello land of false hope and shattered dreams.</p>
<p>I have a hard time lying to my children. I do my best to avoid even the small ones (<em>Sorry honey, the park is closed today</em>). I grew up without Santa (or any holiday for that matter). The idea of actively lying to them feels deceitful and abhorrent. But I know a lot of people, religious and otherwise, that have fond memories of growing up with these traditions. The non-religious tend to use them as a learning moment - the whole world can be wrong about something. How children don't immediately start questioning God (along with everything else they're told) is beyond me. Then again, I think they all do eventually. The trick is whether or not they are brave enough to follow their own logic.</p>
<p>My oldest, Boots, tends to go for Pascal's Wager when holidays approach. Other than that, she's pretty skeptical. Sometimes she gets distressed trying to work it out. I encourage her to think and reason for herself. So far, so good. My three year only has a vague concept of all of it though he has no problem telling us what he'd like to find under the tree.</p>
<p>I could be wrong. Fairies might populate the few areas of untouched nature in the world. We haven't discovered much of the ocean, perhaps mermaids are down there somewhere. If not here, maybe in an alternate universe. In the end, my goal is the same as it always was: teach my children how to think, not what to think. With indoctrination being the norm, I have to wonder if that goal is realistic.<br/><br/>Originally published on <a href="http://mmjgwrites.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wary Wonderlust</a></p>Julia Sweeney on What She's Learnedtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-09-18:1982180:BlogPost:13781252013-09-18T14:23:45.000ZA. T. Heisthttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/ATHeist615
<p>Interesting article. And (spoiler alert!) I suspect a lot of parents can empathize with what she says toward the end about Santa Claus.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/01/30/what-julia-sweeney-has-learned-since-performing-her-atheist-monologue/">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/01/30/what-julia-sweeney-has-learned-since-performing-her-atheist-monologue/</a></p>
<p>Interesting article. And (spoiler alert!) I suspect a lot of parents can empathize with what she says toward the end about Santa Claus.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/01/30/what-julia-sweeney-has-learned-since-performing-her-atheist-monologue/">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/01/30/what-julia-sweeney-has-learned-since-performing-her-atheist-monologue/</a></p>It's Better that I Die...You tootag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-07-18:1982180:BlogPost:14616302013-07-18T20:30:00.000ZM.M.J. Gregoryhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/MuggleinConverse
<p><a href="http://brettvanort.wordpress.com/category/heathrow-project/"><img alt="cemetary" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-891 align-center" height="313" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/cemetary.jpg?w=470" width="470"></img> <br></br></a> I am going to die. There have been times in my life when this fact scared me. Two unknown details of my demise still have the power to worry my weary mind: when and how. I don't want to die young, before my children have grown and blossomed. I wouldn't prefer a painful death. Other than that, the certainty of my finality no longer fills me with introspective angst.</p>
<p>Most humans are brought up with…</p>
<p><a href="http://brettvanort.wordpress.com/category/heathrow-project/"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-891 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/cemetary.jpg?w=470" alt="cemetary" width="470" height="313"/><br/></a> I am going to die. There have been times in my life when this fact scared me. Two unknown details of my demise still have the power to worry my weary mind: when and how. I don't want to die young, before my children have grown and blossomed. I wouldn't prefer a painful death. Other than that, the certainty of my finality no longer fills me with introspective angst.</p>
<p>Most humans are brought up with a pervasive faith in an afterlife. A common thread is found in the tapestry of life-after-death beliefs: retribution. How exactly that retribution will be paid varies widely. Some believe that a caste or species change is in order. Others are certain that a supernatural world awaits them on the other side. Regardless of the specifics, the idea of one's actions being tallied and answered for is ever-present. While the rewards and punishments differ, religion in general tells us that this life is some sort of cosmic test. Pass and you shall be rewarded; fail and your situation could not be more dire.</p>
<p>Most people want reality to reflect karma. Thinking that the good among us will inherit the best of what the afterlife has to offer and that the villainous will get paid in kind appeals to our sense of order. Of course we want to believe that the wrongs of this life will be righted, even if we have to die to reach the final reckoning. With exceptions, humans act within the same basic ethical parameters. Yet, as self-deprecating as we can be, we are skilled at seeing the faults of others as greater than our own. I have heard the smug satisfaction of Christians as they tell atheists to fear Hell. Many may have a tiny twisted ball of fear in their stomachs asking if they will be among the damned, but I would venture that most are confident that they will gain admission into the pearly gates.<br/> <a href="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/heaven.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-888 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/heaven.jpg?w=470" alt="heaven" width="470" height="389"/></a>Armed with the 'knowledge' that they will be saved from the inequalities of this world, something happens to believers. When this life is only an assessment, it loses a lot of its purpose. Sure, one must practice what has been learned. Never knowing when the final exam will take place adds a mix of urgency and tediousness. Still, there are plenty of other pupils in class to serve as distraction in the mean time. But, what's the point? If we trust religion, existence is only a means to an end. Why look at the stars? Why fall in love? Why do <em>anything</em> other than study for the ultimate examination?</p>
<p>As an atheist, I have been asked what meaning my life can hold. As if immortality adds purpose rather than subtracting it. I have to assume that most theists have not truly pondered what an afterlife represents. Life goes on after someone dies. Marriage vows are 'till death do us part' for a reason. Many of the afterlife myths I have come across state that even if you are among the rewarded and your friends and family are among the condemned, you will not be sad. What??</p>
<p>Allow me to state that if an afterlife does exist and I am saved but my children are not and I am not insane with grief, I am no longer myself. I have changed into someone else entirely, someone I have no desire to know or be. Ironically, if our actions are only part of a supernatural audit where success means dismissing the individual who actually took the test for an eternity spent as an intrinsically different person, the test is rendered useless. Think about it. We <em>are</em> our memories, thoughts, and experiences. If these are nothing more than a distant dream when we reach the afterlife then what was the point of having to earn it at all?</p>
<p>The fact that our life ends gives us all the meaning we could ever want. A day will come when I am not alive, not even remembered. If I don't make these moments count, these right nows, then I will have wasted the only consciousness I will ever have. There is no need to cheapen this life with pretend second chances. Finding what and who we love and surrounding ourselves with those loves is a glorious way to spend this lifetime. This one lifetime.</p>
<p><a href="http://art.thewalters.org/detail/5036/pendant-with-a-monk-and-death/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-889 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/deadmonk.jpg" alt="death" width="220" height="275"/><br/></a> It is better that I die. You too. Looking into our society's past, we see that social evolution depends upon the death of old ideas and those that hold them. 'Passing on' is nothing more than handing off the world to our children, to the next generation. With our final breaths, we are asking that they rid themselves of our prejudices and irrational thoughts. Little by little, person by person, our society changes. It could improve or worsen, but our fate would be sealed if we held immortality. Humanity cannot thrive unless we prune the branches of our family tree, including the limbs where we ourselves grow.</p>
<p>Most readers (and viewers) think that Dumbledore was referring to an afterlife. Perhaps that is what J.K. Rowling was referring to. That isn't what I picture though. As <a href="http://mmjgwrites.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/the-nitrogen-in-our-dna-the-calcium-in-our-teeth-the-iron-in-our-blood-the-carbon-in-our-apple-pies-were-made-in-the-interiors-of-collapsing-stars-we-are-made-of-starstuff-carl-sagan/" target="_blank">Sagan said</a>, we are all starstuff. Our dead and decaying bodies will still be starstuff. While I plan on turning my starstuff <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/poetree-a-funeral-urn-that-lets-you-plant-a-tree-from-ashes.html" target="_blank">into a tree</a> for a while, eventually the atoms that I call my own will scatter across the universe once more. I don't know what my quarks or neurons will be in another millenia, but they will exist. My mind may not be along for the ride but everything that I am made of will continue to swirl among the stars. What could be more adventurous than that?<br/><br/><em>Originally Posted on <a href="http://mmjgwrites.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Wary Wonderlust</a></em></p>"I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made." -Yahweh(?)/Moses(?)tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-13:1982180:BlogPost:14616312013-06-13T20:30:00.000ZM.M.J. Gregoryhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/MuggleinConverse
<p>I don't know about you, but that sure sounds like a guy I'd want to worship!<br></br>/sarcasm</p>
<p>No. My thoughts are more similar to this point of view:<br></br><img alt="noah" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-695 align-center" height="462" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/noah.jpg?w=470" width="470"></img> <br></br>Really, it's more like a dad who drowned all of his children except for one kid and was like, "Don't worry. I won't murder you or any of the kids I have from here on out! <em>Well</em>, at least not by drowning all of them in a massive flood... You know I mean it too because I made you a pretty painting."</p>
<p>The truly…</p>
<p>I don't know about you, but that sure sounds like a guy I'd want to worship!<br/>/sarcasm</p>
<p>No. My thoughts are more similar to this point of view:<br/><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-695 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/noah.jpg?w=470" alt="noah" width="470" height="462"/><br/>Really, it's more like a dad who drowned all of his children except for one kid and was like, "Don't worry. I won't murder you or any of the kids I have from here on out! <em>Well</em>, at least not by drowning all of them in a massive flood... You know I mean it too because I made you a pretty painting."</p>
<p>The truly disturbing part of the Noah's Ark story is the fact that it has become a children's story. You can't go shopping for baby merchandise without finding bedding, decor, clothing, picture frames, and other products plastered with happy animal couples riding out the storm in a cute little boat.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-696 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/noah1.gif" alt="noah1" width="313" height="208"/></p>
<p>Isn't that nice? Some cute animals and an old dude hanging out together. Everyone is getting along, all happy and fed. No one is even choking on the smell of urine! <em>Just don't look under those waves, okay?</em></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-697 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/noahart.jpg?w=470" alt="noahart" width="470" height="352"/><br/>Isn't this nice? Arts and crafts time for the kiddos. Let's have fun remembering that time God wiped out everyone except for those eight people! After all, everyone else was evil and he thought, "Hey, let's give the whole incest thing another shot." Poor God. All he wants is righteous followers and everyone keeps messing up:</p>
<blockquote><p>Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. -<em>Genesis 6:11-13</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>That's a reasonable reaction, right? World full of violence? MURDER <em>ALL THE PEOPLE</em>!</p>
<p>I didn't grow up with just the cheery images of happy animals and shiny rainbows. Oh no. I was a Jehovah's Witness so I grew up with this book:<br/><a href="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/biblestories.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-708 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/biblestories.jpg" alt="biblestories" width="300" height="300"/></a><br/>Looks nice enough, right? I didn't realize how disturbing the images were until much later in life. I remember most of the pictures even though I can't remember the last time I saw the actual book. I knew exactly what I was looking for when I went to JW.org:</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-698 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/noah2.jpg?w=470" alt="noah2" width="470" height="272"/><br/>I have had nightmares about that mother and child. Their image was seared into my brain more than anything else in that book.<strong> It's a baby.</strong> If we're to believe what God told Noah, the baby was corrupt and didn't deserve to live. Think about that for a minute, I'll wait.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>Properly horrified? Let's move on.</p>
<p>As an adult, I try to imagine what exactly was going through the artist's head. Sure, we can pretend that all the others in the picture are assholes. But the mother and the naked child? Mommy is clinging to her baby for dear life, trying to offer comfort and love in their final moments. It's heart-wrenching and her actions are decidedly <strong>not</strong> evil.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-699 align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/noah-3.jpg?w=470" alt="noah 3" width="470" height="270"/>As marvelous as a rainbow is, I don't think it comes close to dismissing the insane overreaction of a vengeful deity. Isn't the fact that God felt the need to offer up a kind of apology and promise never to repeat his actions proof that the supposedly inerrant God realized that he made a huge mistake? Abusive father indeed. He doesn't seem to have learned from his failure though:</p>
<p>"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." -<em>Genesis 9:6</em></p>
<p>*sigh*</p>
<p>From what I can tell, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/feb/16/20040216-113955-2061r/?page=all" target="_blank">most </a><a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/store/product/true-story-noahs-ark/?sku=10-2-157" target="_blank">Christians </a>accept the Noah's Ark tale as <a href="http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/library/noahsark.htm" target="_blank">literal </a><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mysteries-bible-proof-noahs-ark-christiane-amanpour-investigates-18034944" target="_blank">truth</a>. JW.org also has the accompanying <a href="http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-stories/part-1-creation-to-the-flood/story-10-the-great-flood/" target="_blank">stories </a>I read when my mind was much more pliant. A few gems from <em>The Great Flood:</em></p>
<p><strong>"The giants were gone now. No more would they be around to hurt people. All of them had died, along with their mothers and the rest of the bad people."</strong><br/>I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant" target="_blank">Andres </a>in the world.</p>
<p><strong>"God now spoke to Noah. He said: ‘Go out of the ark. Take your whole family and the animals with you.’ They had been inside the ark for more than a whole year. So we can just imagine how happy they all were to be outside again and to be alive!"</strong><br/>I think I would have had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_guilt" target="_blank">survivor's guilt</a> personally.</p>
<p>Someone please explain to me how the inclusion of lots of animals makes this a children's story. This is a story about ecocide and near complete omnicide, including infanticide. Wrapping the mass destruction of life in rainbows and primary colors does not diminish the staggering horror of a global flood directed by a supposedly loving God.</p>
<p>You can't even get <a href="http://eepineapple.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/genesis-8-11/" target="_blank">10 chapters</a> into the first book of the Bible before it is stunningly obvious that God is the villain.<br/><br/><em>Originally Posted on <a href="http://mmjgwrites.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Wary Wonderlust</a></em></p>Atheism is Not a Philosophytag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-10:1982180:BlogPost:14618152013-06-10T20:30:00.000ZM.M.J. Gregoryhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/MuggleinConverse
<p><a href="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/humanist.jpg"><img alt="humanist" class="size-full wp-image-689 aligncenter align-center" height="300" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/humanist.jpg" width="250"></img></a> <br></br>There is a lot that I don't agree with Sam Harris on. I have always loved his 'atheism is not a philosophy' quote though. He wrote it in <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_to_a_Christian_Nation" target="_blank">Letter to a Christian Nation</a>.</em> I have met quite a few atheists and I certainly don't agree with them on everything. Hell, Irish and I don't even share the same exact…</p>
<p><a href="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/humanist.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-689 aligncenter align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/humanist.jpg" alt="humanist" width="250" height="300"/></a><br/>There is a lot that I don't agree with Sam Harris on. I have always loved his 'atheism is not a philosophy' quote though. He wrote it in <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_to_a_Christian_Nation" target="_blank">Letter to a Christian Nation</a>.</em> I have met quite a few atheists and I certainly don't agree with them on everything. Hell, Irish and I don't even share the same exact worldview. That's the thing about thinking outside the box, even when you agree on something as big as whether or not a benevolent deity exists, you may not agree on anything else.</p>
<p>A lot of the more vocal believers would adamantly disagree with Harris' assertion. I can hear them now: 'Atheism isn't just a philosophy, it's a <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/03/17/sorry-but-atheism-is-religion/" target="_blank">religion</a>! A religion that wages a war on <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/22/this-is-how-texas-politicians-are-fighting-against-the-atheist-led-war-on-christmas/" target="_blank">Christmas</a>! Atheists want to <a href="http://www.redstate.com/msmils13/2011/09/16/top-atheist-leader-calls-for-the-%E2%80%98eradication%E2%80%99-of-%E2%80%98fundamental-christians%E2%80%99/" target="_blank">kill </a>believers!' To believers of any faith that happen to be reading this, let me assure you, none of this is true. At least not of me. That is my point though. I don't speak for all atheists, we're too diverse. We have no consistent philosophy.</p>
<p>Harris went on to say, "Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs." Holy TARDIS of Gallifrey, Yes! This is what I wish I could get the religious people in my life to realize. Atheism is not a religion. Religions are belief systems based on faith. Atheism is the lack of a belief, one very specific belief. There is no 'War on Christmas', there are simply people that want you to realize that your holiday is not everyone's holiday. And while I am sure there are a few insane people wishing death on believers that happen to be atheists, they are not doing so in the name of atheism. You can't do anything in the name of atheism, not really.</p>
<p>You might be thinking, "Wait, there are atheist organizations that are doing just that: <a href="http://www.centerforinquiry.net/" target="_blank">Center of Inquiry</a>, <a href="http://www.americanhumanist.org/" target="_blank">American Humanist Association</a>, <a href="http://atheists.org/" target="_blank">American Atheists</a>!"</p>
<p>Well dear reader, you're right. And you're wrong. Those and many other groups do pursue secular causes, but not in the name of atheism. American Atheists makes it into the news a lot because they spend a lot of time in court. Their <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/12/20/american-atheists-is-suing-the-irs-claiming-that-it-gives-preferential-treatment-to-religious-groups/" target="_blank">cases </a>tend to <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/atheists-sue-cross-world-trade-center-museum/story?id=14169830#.UbYtUfmsidk" target="_blank">piss </a>people off.</p>
<p>More recently, they gained the right to erect a granite bench outside of a courthouse in Bradford County, Florida. The bench will be engraved with secular quotes from several people, including Thomas Jefferson and Madalyn Murray O'Hair along with the punishments the Bible lays out for those that break the Ten Commandments. This all happened because Bradford County decided that the area outside of their courthouse should be a "Free Speech Forum". Basically, as long as you're willing to pay for it, you can place a monument there. A Christian men's group put one up that listed the Bible's Ten Commandments. (Color me unsurprised.)<br/><a href="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/ten.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-690 aligncenter align-center" src="http://mmjgwrites.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/ten.jpg?w=470" alt="ten" width="470" height="705"/></a>(This one is in Austin, I've seen it myself. Ugh.)</p>
<p>American Atheists originally sued Bradford County, saying that the Ten Commandments monument violated the separation of church and state. The county asked the Christian group to remove their slab so that they could avoid the cost of going to court. When the Christians refused, the county decided to offer American Atheists a compromise: the Christian monument would stay, but the non-believers could place their own. (Wasn't that always an option? I don't know.) Everyone agreed and the bench will soon be in place.</p>
<p>David Silverman, the source of inspiration for <a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/forums/meme-research/topics/9035-david-silverman" target="_blank">this </a>fantastic meme and President of American Atheists said, “We have maintained from the beginning that the Ten Commandments doesn't belong on government property. There is no secular purpose for the monument whatsoever and it makes atheists feel like second-class citizens. But if keeping it there means we have the right to install our own monument, then installing our own is exactly what we’ll do.”</p>
<p>I have to say, I don't like the whole thing. There shouldn't be any allusions to religion or anti-religion on government property. Our government overlords should remain silent on all matters of faith. No invoking God as you take an oath, no National Day of Prayer, no giving money to groups tied to religion. But all of that happens. Atheist organizations act, not in the name of atheism but in the name of free-thought, tolerance and understanding, a secular government, fact-based education and knowledge, an equal society, a better humanity.</p>
<p>Harris has said that the term 'atheism' shouldn't exist. We don't have a name for people that don't believe in fairies after all. He's technically right. A lot of people shed the label in favor of Humanist or something similar. Still, most of the world believes in the supernatural to some degree, especially deities. We are the minority. I could go on for quite a while about the concept of labels in general but I think that calling oneself an atheist is important. We may not have a joining philosophy but we do face discrimination around the globe. Believers have to know that we are not evil crazies intent on taking away their Christmas trees. How will they ever know that if we don't openly admit our disbelief?</p>
<p>Again, not every atheist will agree. But I think most would. Something happens when you realize there is no sky daddy to make you be a better person. You realize that you have to take care of yourself. No one is going to rescue you or swoop down and save the world. You realize that we are our own saviors, we have to be. It is scary and overwhelming. It's more than that though, it's empowering. You aren't alone. There are billions of other humans. You don't have to have all of the answers, you just have to be willing to listen to the other people. If we all listen, I think we'll find that we can solve our problems. We can recognize our deficits and work to fill them. We need no heroes.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://recoveringfromreligion.org/" target="_blank">Recovering From Religion</a> organization is planning to open a <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/06/05/atheists-plan-live-hotline-for-religious-doubters/" target="_blank">telephone hotline</a> for those that are doubting their religious faith. The people answering those calls will not offer any prayers or speak of an afterlife that will diminish this life. But they will be able to offer a voice of comfort and reassurance. We may not have a benevolent deity, but we have one another. And that is enough.<br/><br/><em>Originally Published on <a href="http://mmjgwrites.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Wary Wonderlust</a></em></p>Evaluationtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-05-29:1982180:BlogPost:13202112013-05-29T16:32:04.000ZRick Yosthttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/RickYost
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is my last report regarding<br></br> my mission to evaluate the beings of this world.<br></br> Thirty of this planet’s orbital cycles ago<br></br> I arrived here by Refracted Linear-Light/Fold.<br></br> Since then I have lived, worked, and played alongside<br></br> these beings in the guise of one of their own.<br></br> Universal Protocols remain intact.<br></br> I have had no ill-effect nor have I…</span></span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is my last report regarding<br/> my mission to evaluate the beings of this world.<br/> Thirty of this planet’s orbital cycles ago<br/> I arrived here by Refracted Linear-Light/Fold.<br/> Since then I have lived, worked, and played alongside<br/> these beings in the guise of one of their own.<br/> Universal Protocols remain intact.<br/> I have had no ill-effect nor have I changed anything.<br/> The knowledge I have gathered from observing<br/> this world will enrich our own.<br/></span></span></em> <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-be, MOjsz-</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">~~~~~~~~<br/><br/> What follows is an overview with comment-<br/> EVALUATION- DU/,E69424. report: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">earth</span><br/> ~lrembe.MOjsz, xrs.<br/><br/></span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of the life forms I have observed here, the dominant species that call themselves ‘humans’ warrant mention for their awkward mental state and puzzling behavior. Although humans are the only level-2 technologically advanced species on this world, they lack the emotional strength necessary to exist comfortably within their own psyches. Their emotions and fears define them.</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Humans are skittish, nervous animals and panic easily. They are prone to complain of various imagined maladies such as “…feeling ‘a void within themselves”, or “something missing from their lives”. Similarly, they speak of feelings that disturb them such as ‘lonely’, ‘empty’, or ‘lost’. <br/> The daily lives of humans are full of things that scare them. The everyday uncertainties and dangers of their world cause them great anxiety and stress. For many, their everyday existence can be an overwhelming ordeal. They are disturbed by questions they cannot answer, and fear what they do not understand.</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To lessen their fear of the unknown, and reduce the stress of their worrisome unanswered questions, they craft their lives around ancient stories from the days and lives of their ancestors. These stories are connected cautionary-tales, camp-fire stories, and rules of conduct designed to control their daily lives. They are comforted by the answers their ancient ancestors derived from the stories, and accept the same answers for their own questions in the present.<br/> Story followers live by the written word of their ancestors, eat similar foods as their ancestors, and dress in similar attire. They recite segments of the ancient text and quote their story-heroes. They go to great lengths to re-enact story events, and essentially act as participants in their ancestor’s stories. <br/> They busy themselves and adorn their lives with all manner of ancient custom, decoration and practices relating to their story; bells and baubles, hats and robes, shrines and temples, wine and incense, bowing and praying, and rituals and ceremonies. Like thespians, they continuously perform their lives as an improvised stage-show based on the ancient stories, complete with wardrobe, sets and music.</span></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In most religious stories there is a central hero, a parental-figure referred to as a ‘god’. Gods are considered perfect, omnipotent beings. They are found in all the stories and they all claim to be the creators and rulers of the universe.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the common individual, following a religion offers a ready-made and time-honored structure they can count on for moral support in dealing with their worrisome lives. Joining a group of story followers gives them relief from their loneliness. Opportunistic beings by nature, in most stories they are also offered a reward for living their lives faithfully, and following the rules of conduct until death.</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are over ten-thousand stories currently being re-told around the globe. Stories are integral to the makeup of human societies. Some religions have existed for centuries, attracting millions of loyal followers called, ‘believers’. Religions of this size are essentially global business organizations, influencing large segments of the population, and controlling large areas of the planet politically, economically, and militarily.<br/> Unfortunately, some religions have problematic rules of conduct. Some religions contend that to follow any religion other than theirs, is a crime punishable by death. As you can imagine, this creates a constant tension between all parties involved.</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This world-wide obsession with religion would be a harmless aberration if not for the ease with which millions of humans can be coerced by religious leaders into acts of aggression and war. Religion is used regularly as a reason to exert power and commit regional and global violence.<br/> Malice aside, billions of humans practicing different religions separates the species into competitive groups, and each group is forced to act on the assumption that they alone are the superior group. This is common to most religions. Because every group assumes their superiority, the planet continues to be in the same dysfunctional, feudal, tribal state it has been for centuries. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Religion hinders and complicates every human endeavor, and its competing ideologies endanger the safety of the entire population. The political arguments and constant battling between religions is in part why three billion out of the seven billion humans on the planet are either ill, dying, or at best living in poverty waiting to die.</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you know, we have observed these beings from a far for some time. I can report that our initial impressions of them were accurate; they are the strangest life-forms I’ve encountered on any of the worlds I’ve observed. Just as they've done for centuries, they continue to flounder intellectually while acting out their ancestor’s stories and religious fantasies. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">They have made very few attempts to utilize their minds past perfecting their egos. They seem to be quite content with creating, and fighting over their world of things.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aside from this mental dysfunction, they appear benign in all other aspects of their existence. Except for some crude attempts at off-world exploration, I think our concerns are unfounded; they will never manage to leave their planetary system in any great number, let alone threaten other inhabited worlds. I predict the species will either self-destruct, or simply die out long before they end their obsessions, and their minds become fully functional.<br/></span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Observer comment:<br/> I will add that I have enjoyed observing these beings. They are strange, self-limiting, and self-destructive, yet endearing in an amusing way.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">~~~~~~~~<br/><br/></span></span> <em><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This has been an abbreviated version of my full official report filed: 7590.Ut0004.k97.</span></span></em><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br/> ~MOjsz<br/><br/><br/></span></span></p>You can take your hat offtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-05-28:1982180:BlogPost:13192552013-05-28T04:57:43.000ZRick Yosthttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/RickYost
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a child, it was as if I'd been shoved into a huge cathedral packed wall-to-wall with billions of people, and everybody was wearing a hat. Up on my tip-toes, straining to look out over the heads of the crowd, I saw a massive turbulent sea of hats of all shapes and colors. Although the hats themselves were quite vivid, everyone's face was blurred. <br></br>Everyone in the crowd was proclaiming their hat to be the best hat to…</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a child, it was as if I'd been shoved into a huge cathedral packed wall-to-wall with billions of people, and everybody was wearing a hat. Up on my tip-toes, straining to look out over the heads of the crowd, I saw a massive turbulent sea of hats of all shapes and colors. Although the hats themselves were quite vivid, everyone's face was blurred. <br/>Everyone in the crowd was proclaiming their hat to be the best hat to wear. They were all shouting, chanting and preaching at the same time, billions of loud voices, it was deafening. <span style="font-size: small;">I slowly elbowed and pushed my way through the tightly-packed mob.</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I passed each of them, t</span></span></span>hey would turn and speak to me with their gospel, offering me a hat like their own to wear. Some tried to force their hats on me, reaching to place them on my head or shove them in my face. But to their frustration and anger I refused them all.<br/> <span style="font-size: small;">Not wearing a hat of any sort, by default places me in an opposing position to almost everyone else on the planet. Although I'm a<span style="font-size: small;">cting from my heart and good sense, my refusal to wear a hat means I am labeled a worthless and vile heathen, an agitator, troublemaker, heretic, pagan or infidel. There are those that would put me to death just for not wearing the right hat. <br/></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I wasn't born wearing a hat. I don't have a need or desire to wear a hat. <br/></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">This is such a loving thing to do to every newborn bare-headed baby.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>The evolution of Godtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-05-11:1982180:BlogPost:13085202013-05-11T22:00:00.000Zperspicacitihttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/perspicaciti
<p>Since man as discovered his consciousness and began to live in groups, he has thought and wondered about the beauty of nature, the vastness of space and immensity of time. Since then he has searched for a creator of this universe and all its constituents. This was mans first perception about God, ‘the creator’. As time passed by man discovered his ignorance about certain things that surrounded him thus he attributed most things beyond his comprehension or understanding to…</p>
<p>Since man as discovered his consciousness and began to live in groups, he has thought and wondered about the beauty of nature, the vastness of space and immensity of time. Since then he has searched for a creator of this universe and all its constituents. This was mans first perception about God, ‘the creator’. As time passed by man discovered his ignorance about certain things that surrounded him thus he attributed most things beyond his comprehension or understanding to God.</p>
<p> In the first instance is it not enough to enter a garden filled with beautiful flowers and appreciate it without thinking that there is a being at the bottom who planted it? Man in his quest to appreciate the beauty of his immediate environment and everything that was there before his existence as in his ignorance shifted the quest of understanding the complex puzzle of life to an all knowing creator that was there before his existence and know all about his existence.</p>
<p> As time went by, man had another puzzle to solve, though he now believes a creator exists, he wanted to know why he was created, his purpose of being alive. Yet again he related this to the eternal being, he saw himself as a servant of this creator. This was a new beginning as man started to feel God and God started revealing himself in different ways. For a long this perceptions and views about God has developed into what is now known as religion. Religion has helped in giving life meaning and solving life great puzzles.</p>
<p> In the mid nineteenth century when science became very prominent, it has been used as a tool in discovering our world and answering many life great questions. Since then man’s understanding, meaning and perception of God and the universe has changed. He now knows the earth is round, not flat, that we evolved from the molecules of the early ocean, apes are our cousins, he now understand the weather and seasons, have landed on the moon, discovered the theory of evolution, the big bang theory, and now have answers to various life puzzles</p>
<p> Science has explained to man that the God theologians refer to is a ‘blind watch maker’ creating the universe following no specific pattern but guided by rules and laws of nature, out of all the plants and animals that have ever existed on the earth 99 percent are now extinct. The way we perceive God in this generation is quite different from the way our forefathers have perceived him, we no longer require any means of invisible support. It is said that men may not be the dreams of Gods, but rather that the Gods are the dreams of men.</p>
<p> it is quite impossible for a specie of our kind with limited time of about only 70 years to know it all, what we should strive for is making wise and efficient use of the little we are able to grasp, to change the world as we know it today to a better place for us and our unborn generation.</p>Miffedtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-05-01:1982180:BlogPost:13025782013-05-01T15:04:38.000ZAlan Chttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/AlanCragg
<p>A few days ago I had an epiphany. I was explaining to someone why it is more logical for the Big Bang to have brought the universe into existence than for a supernatural supreme being to appear, as if by magic, then 'him' creating the universe.</p>
<p>I explained that if we assume that we need a designer, an all powerful deity, to create the universe, earth, humans, etc. then the natural assumption would be that another more powerful and complex deity would be required to create that deity…</p>
<p>A few days ago I had an epiphany. I was explaining to someone why it is more logical for the Big Bang to have brought the universe into existence than for a supernatural supreme being to appear, as if by magic, then 'him' creating the universe.</p>
<p>I explained that if we assume that we need a designer, an all powerful deity, to create the universe, earth, humans, etc. then the natural assumption would be that another more powerful and complex deity would be required to create that deity and so on.</p>
<p>Effectively we would need to have deities all the way up to infinity, each producing sub-heavens and sub-deities. And that's when it hit me, I have invented a new religion!</p>
<p>I (naturally) would be the head honcho, I would get to commune directly with the (deep, echo voice) Infinite Deity, passing down His Wisdom (my wishes) to all the other followers. I would operate it like a pyramid scheme. New followers would start with worshipping Deity Primus (and me) and then they would go about converting others to the Ultimate Religion (cool name huh?).</p>
<p>Followers would 'level up' the deistic chain every time they doubled their converts. One convert and you get to worship Deity Secundus (and me), two converts for Deity Tertius (and me), four for Deity Quartus (and...you get the picture) and so on.</p>
<p>Now, as you can see, I have given this deep thought; administration could be a nightmare, and although I intend to run this as an on-line religion (hey, it works for banks and Amazon) I would need headquarters (with several bedrooms, swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, hot tub, all the basic necessities.)</p>
<p>In order to employ a team of (young, nubile) administrators I would need funding. I would require a charitable donation of just one dollar/pound/rupee/zloty/whatever per devotee, the 'converter' would keep a small percentage to encourage more conversions to be made (20%? What do you think? To much? Okay 10%) the rest passing to the Infinite Deity's charity (me.)</p>
<p>So I was going to run this on my blog here as a sales pitch, see how many of you I could convert to my new religion. Then I read the Blog Guidelines. No proselytising! Damn, that ruined my plans for world domination and being rich beyond my wildest dreams.</p>
<p>So you can see why I am more than a little miffed, my plans thwarted before they even started. Now, where did I put that drawing board?</p>who does the responsibility of proof fall to?tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-04-26:1982180:BlogPost:12996542013-04-26T16:30:00.000ZLance Angus Mileshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/LanceAngusMiles
<p>one big topic that comes up in theist vs atheist debates is who does the responsibility of proof fall to?</p>
<p>does it fall to the creationists to prove that god DOES exist?</p>
<p>Or</p>
<p>does it fall upon those who do believe that god does NOT exist?</p>
<p>AND, can you give your reason(s) why?</p>
<p>I personally think that it is the creationists responsibility to prove god's existance BECAUSE: throughout the entire history of science, science has only ever proven the existance of…</p>
<p>one big topic that comes up in theist vs atheist debates is who does the responsibility of proof fall to?</p>
<p>does it fall to the creationists to prove that god DOES exist?</p>
<p>Or</p>
<p>does it fall upon those who do believe that god does NOT exist?</p>
<p>AND, can you give your reason(s) why?</p>
<p>I personally think that it is the creationists responsibility to prove god's existance BECAUSE: throughout the entire history of science, science has only ever proven the existance of things, science has NEVER proven that something DOES NOT exhist. eg. earth, air, fire and water were proven not to be elements, because of the discovery of the EXISTANCE of the true elements (hydrogen, carbon etc), but neither earth, air, fire or water were proven not to exist by this discovery, they were simply proven not to be fundamental elements. the EXISTANCE of the atom was proven, and that discovery did not prove the NON-EXISTANCE of anything. the EXISTANCE of the forces of Gravity, Electromagnetism, Strong and Weak nuclear forces have all been proven, but that too has not proven the NON-EXISTANCE of anything. same goes for the existance of micro-organisms, dinosaurs, black holes, other stars, planets, galaxies, protons, electrons, electrons, neutrons, matter, antimatter, energy etc (the list of things that exhist is very VERY long). not once has science ever proven that something does NOT exhist, so why should it start now? why is there no evidence for the non-existance of non-existant things? because non-exhistant things have non-existant evidence for their non-existance, therefore you do not need to provide evidence that proves that something does not exhist, but if you claim that something DOES exhist, you must provide the proof or evidence that it exhists.</p>
<p>please i encourage anyone to comment if they can think of an instance where something has been proven not to exist, unlike the vast majority of creationists, I am open to new knowledge and new information and to changing my personal views and beliefs and to being proven wrong, i am always looking to review and refine my definitions and explanations of my knowledge and beliefs.</p>Philosophy Class Discussion Questions and answerstag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-04-21:1982180:BlogPost:12978692013-04-21T21:52:26.000ZMissy Hollingsworthhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/MissyHollingsworth
<p>As promised, I am posting the discussion questions and my answers to them. There are two units, the first is regarding the concept of religion. The second is regarding the concept of god. So, here ya go... enjoy! :-P</p>
<p>(I apologize for the formatting on discussion 9, msword doesn't transfer over here very nicely!)</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Discussion 9- What is religion?</strong></p>
<p><b>1. </b> <b>Explain the difference between agnosticism and atheism.</b></p>
<p>An agnostic…</p>
<p>As promised, I am posting the discussion questions and my answers to them. There are two units, the first is regarding the concept of religion. The second is regarding the concept of god. So, here ya go... enjoy! :-P</p>
<p>(I apologize for the formatting on discussion 9, msword doesn't transfer over here very nicely!)</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Discussion 9- What is religion?</strong></p>
<p><b>1. </b> <b>Explain the difference between agnosticism and atheism.</b></p>
<p>An agnostic believes that it is possible that god may exist, but there has not been sufficient evidence to prove or disprove the existence of god. An atheist believes there is no god.</p>
<p><b> </b><b>2. </b> <b>Explain and evaluate your concept of "religion" by answering the four questions posed by Streng (summarized in the yellow box on page 359).</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<li>“Does your definition <i>reduce</i> religion to what you happen to be acquainted with by accident of birth and socialization?” I feel that, as children, we are pushed into the religion followed by our parents. When we are old enough to explore on our own, some people decide to stick with what they were raised with, while other’s venture out to explore new ideas.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>“Does your definition reflect a <i>bias</i> on your part –positive or negative- toward religion as a whole, or toward a particular religion?” I do think I am biased. I do not believe in religion at all. I do not see where there is any scientific proof of the existence of any form of god or other religious idol. I feel that everyone is biased in one way or another when it comes to religion.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>“Does your definition <i>limit</i> religion to what it has been in the past, an nothing else, or does your definition make it possible to discuss emerging forms of religion?” I do not feel that my definition limits religion. I feel that if a new religion emerged based on scientific fact, I would readily accept that religion.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>“Does your definition have sufficient <i>precision</i>?” I feel that each person is entitled to their own belief system. I don’t feel mine is any better or more accurate that anyone else’s. I think each person should be able to define their own structure of religion without having to worry about belittlement from others, or discrimination due to their beliefs. I think my definition of religion is precise to me, and that is all that matters. Whether it is to another person or not is up to them to decide.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><b> </b><b>3. </b><strong> Explain Feuerbach’s argument. Do you agree? Why or why not?</strong></p>
<p>Feuerbach felt that god was the projection of man’s dream. He stated that people were not created in god’s image, but that god was created in man’s image. That people endowed god with the most desired emotions and values and then perfected them. In this creation, humankind found god. Feuerbach hoped that he could show people this was just a projection of what they desired god to be. He felt that if he could liberate people from this way of thinking, that they would turn their love and devotion to all humankind. Feuerbach goes on the question why has man created this ultimate goodness? He feels it is so that man can be free from himself to transcend himself and soar to the realm of ultimate goodness. I think this is a good argument because there is no scientific proof to support the existence of any form of god. So, if people have created this character in their own image, endowing him with perfect values and emotions, then they have something to emulate in their own lives, something to work towards.</p>
<p><b> </b><b>4. </b><strong> Explain Nishitani's argument. Do you agree? Why or why not?</strong></p>
<p>Nishitani felt that religion is what helped man to find the meaning of life, and the place he falls in that meaning. He felt that man could not answer these questions without the help of religion, or more specifically, by going on a religious quest, to find the answers specifically for each person. I do not agree with this argument because I do not feel religion is necessary for a person to find his or her own place in life, or to find meaning for his or her own life. I think that we as individuals are able to find those answers without involving the concept of religion.</p>
<p><b> </b><b>5. </b> <b>Using the principles of logic that you have learned, are Feuerbach’s and Nishitani's arguments good arguments and why or why not?</b></p>
<p>I do think they are both well-formed arguments, however I do not feel that every person needs to follow the concept of religion, regardless of what form that concept takes.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Discussion 10- Does god exist?</strong></p>
<p><b>Explain the Problem of Evil. What does Hick say in response to this problem?</b></p>
<p>The problem with evil states that if god exists and is all powerful and is all good, then how can evil exist. Hick says the problem with evil is only a problem for those who believe in a god that is both omnipotent and wholly good. According to Hick, we have to determine that either god is not all good or not all powerful in order to explain why evil exists.</p>
<p><br/> <b>Explain the Ontological argument and state one problem with it.</b></p>
<p>The main problem with this argument is that it states that everything must have a cause, and that there must be something that was a first cause to begin the cycle, and therefore god must be the first cause. The premise contradicts the conclusion. If every event must have a cause, then what event caused god?</p>
<p><br/> <b>Explain the Cosmological argument. Do you think that there must be a first cause or is it possible that there is no 'beginning'? Why?</b></p>
<p>The Cosmological argument follows that our universe is the model. First, everything in the world that moves had to, at one point in time, be moved. Since one thing has to move another thing, where is the original ‘mover’ of all things? The only logical answer would be that god is the original mover of things. Second is the cause and effect relationship. Since every effect has a cause, there has to be an original cause to set of effects, and the only logical answer would be that god set off the first effect.</p>
<p>I personally do not think there must be a ‘first cause’ and I do feel it is possible there is no beginning as believed by most Christians. I believe in the big bang theory, and in evolution. I believe science has provided enough supporting evidence that this is where our universe began.</p>
<p><br/> <b>Explain the Argument from Design and state one problem with it.</b></p>
<p>The argument from states that the world and universe was created by an omnipotent being. The problem with this argument is that it does not consider evolution. Another problem is that if an omnipotent being created our world, then why didn’t he/she create a world that was in perfect harmony, rather than one in which people are in constant chaos?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Explain the Argument from Morality. Do you believe that the existence of this deeply felt moral sense supports belief in the existence of a supremely moral mind -God? Why or Why not?</b></p>
<p>The argument from morality states that people get their morality from god; otherwise we would not have the moral principles which we so strongly feel is right. I agree with Kant who states that morality is grounded mainly in our ability to reason. I do not think that god gave us a moral code to follow, I think that humans are able to decipher right from wrong innately.</p>
<p><br/> <b>Using the principles of logic that you have learned, are any of these arguments for the existence of God good arguments? If so, which one(s) and why or why not?</b></p>
<p>Using the principles of logic that I have learned, I have decided no, none of these arguments are good arguments for the existence of god. I feel each argument asks us to take some premise on faith rather than providing factual evidence of the truth of the premise. I think they could be valid arguments because of the way they are stated, but that does not mean they are factual arguments. I feel that there is no factual evidence in support of the existence of god; however I do feel there is evidence against the existence of a supreme being. Our examples in nature, the fossil record, and all that we have learned from exploring the cosmos leads me to believe that our world was created through the big bang theory, and all life on our planet came to be through evolution.</p>
<p></p>
<p>ALL COMMENTS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED!</p>Lovers and Haterstag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-04-14:1982180:BlogPost:12940892013-04-14T06:04:59.000ZBrad Snowderhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BradSnowder
<p><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><a href="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_01lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="How do I look? Too Jew?" border="0" src="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_01.jpg" title="How do I look? Too Jew?"></img></a> <b>The Curse</b><br></br> Malachi 1:1 to 4:4<br></br></span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br></br>
1:1 The burden of being the chosen ones, as articulated by a guy named Malachi. <br></br>
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The Lord made something very clear. He said "I have loved you Jews thoroughly, and thoroughly hated just about everyone else." …<br></br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><a href="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_01lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_01.jpg" alt="How do I look? Too Jew?" title="How do I look? Too Jew?" border="0"/></a><b>The Curse</b><br/> Malachi 1:1 to 4:4<br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
1:1 The burden of being the chosen ones, as articulated by a guy named Malachi. <br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
The Lord made something very clear. He said "I have loved you Jews thoroughly, and thoroughly hated just about everyone else." <br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
That’s all fine and good, however the Jews have polluted the food at God's table. Our sacrifices had slight blemishes. God can’t tolerate slight blemishes.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_02.jpg" alt="As long as you're the tallest it's still a win." title="As long as you're the tallest it's still a win." border="0"/></a><br/>
2:1 Listen guys, here is the deal for you priests. When you priests don't praise God, he puts a curse on you. Then he smears poo on your face. You have been bad little priests. Didn't the one God create all of us? It’s as if Judah has married the daughter of a strange god. God no longer accepts your blemished sacrifices. Your priestly shenanigans have made God tired, very tired. Now wipe the poo off your face.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_04.jpg" alt="My other hat looks like a taco." title="My other hat looks like a taco." border="0"/></a><br/>
3:1 God will be sending a messenger ahead of his arrival to try to prepare you for him. Then the Lord will suddenly come to the temple in Jerusalem one day. At that time things will return to the way they were in olden days. <br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_07lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_07.jpg" alt="I win." title="I win." border="0"/></a>God says "I am the Lord and I don't ever hardly change the way I am. But you have robbed me and you are hereby cursed. On the other hand if you pay taxes to me I will also bless you which should mitigate the curse somewhat. I have written a book containing the names of those who are afraid of me. The people whose names are in The Book of The Afraid will have their lives spared. The day is coming when I will burn all the bad guys with fire. But the good guys, providing they are afraid of me and their taxes are paid up and they have no poo on their faces, will be made very powerful."<br/>
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<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_03.jpg" alt="Snatch the pebble from my hand grasshopper. Hit me with this stick grasshopper. Wear this stupid carpet grasshopper." title="Snatch the pebble from my hand grasshopper. Hit me with this stick grasshopper. Wear this stupid carpet grasshopper." border="0"/></a><br/>
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4:4 "Remember all of those crazy rules I gave to Moses about goats and stuff? I will be sending Elijah down to talk to you more about that sort of crap shortly before the so-called Dreadful Day of The Lord. He will try one last time to get Jewish fathers and their children to get along with each other better. Hopefully he will succeed otherwise I'll strike the whole Earth with a powerful terrible awful horrible curse!" <br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
That’s all for now.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/malachi_06.jpg" alt="I'm getting too old for this shit." title="I'm getting too old for this shit." border="0"/></a><br/>
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<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/23/the-bible-according-to-brad/">The Bible According to Brad</a><br/>
</span></p>"An Atheist Heaven"tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-04-10:1982180:BlogPost:12921442013-04-10T16:45:13.000ZScot Kvetonhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/ScotKveton
<p>I'm not sure how many of you have seen this before but I loved it. It gives a really compelling argument that I plan on using in my religion debates with my friends as soon as possible. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2XWSCQ/:1-yj.IO_K:HZPZl5!x/9joke.net/an-atheist-heaven/">http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2XWSCQ/:1-yj.IO_K:HZPZl5!x/9joke.net/an-atheist-heaven/</a></p>
<p>I'm not sure how many of you have seen this before but I loved it. It gives a really compelling argument that I plan on using in my religion debates with my friends as soon as possible. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2XWSCQ/:1-yj.IO_K:HZPZl5!x/9joke.net/an-atheist-heaven/">http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2XWSCQ/:1-yj.IO_K:HZPZl5!x/9joke.net/an-atheist-heaven/</a></p>Young Beer and Fresh Womentag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-04-07:1982180:BlogPost:12904942013-04-07T04:07:00.000ZBrad Snowderhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BradSnowder
<p><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><a href="http://www.redhorsebeer.com" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Extra Strong" border="0" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_01.jpg" title="Extra Strong"></img></a> <b>Vision of Zion</b> <br></br> Zechariah 1:1 to 14:1<br></br></span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br></br>
1:1 The words of the Lord suddenly appeared in the mind of Zechariah saying “The Lord is upset with your fathers. Don't be like your fathers.” <br></br>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br></br>
One night I saw a man riding on a red horse. Behind him were other riders also on red horses. That was pretty…</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><a href="http://www.redhorsebeer.com" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_01.jpg" alt="Extra Strong" title="Extra Strong" border="0"/></a><b>Vision of Zion</b> <br/> Zechariah 1:1 to 14:1<br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
1:1 The words of the Lord suddenly appeared in the mind of Zechariah saying “The Lord is upset with your fathers. Don't be like your fathers.” <br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
One night I saw a man riding on a red horse. Behind him were other riders also on red horses. That was pretty weird so I asked about it and an angel told me "The red horse riders have been sent by God to walk to and fro on the Earth." I was also told that God has been mad at us for the full requirement of seventy years now and is ready to finally show us a little mercy. God is also ready to start dealing punishing blows to our traditional enemies. You know what I say? I say cheers to that. It's about damn time!<br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
I saw someone making measurements in downtown Jerusalem for rebuilding purposes. God will build a wall of fire around Jerusalem and live here with us. So that's nice. Cheers to that.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_02.jpg" alt="I think I went to college with this guy." title="I think I went to college with this guy." border="0"/></a><br/>
3:3 I saw Joshua walking around in filthy clothes. He stood right next to Satan and some other angel. God insulted Satan and then gave Joshua some new clothes. At least now he has something to wear while he does laundry.<br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
4:1 The angel woke me up out of a weird dream and interpreted the symbolism for me. The angel said that God intends for Zerubbabel to lead us to awesomeness and greatness. Then I saw a giant flying book. Not a book about flying giants. I mean a giant book that flies, and the angel said that the book contained a curse for the whole Earth. The book will fly around stabbing thieves and such. Stabbing thieves is good. Cheers to that. Yay for the giant thief stabbing flying book.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_03.jpg" alt="You could at least paint the toenails to match the pajamas." title="You could at least paint the toenails to match the pajamas." border="0"/></a><br/>
6:1 I saw four chariots come out of two mountains made of brass. The mountains were made of brass, not the chariots. The chariots were probably iron. The angel referred to the chariots as the Four Spirits of Heaven and, like the red horse guys, the chariots were sent to wander to and fro on the Earth. <br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
God says that a guy known as "The Branch" will come soon and rebuild the temple. Cheers to that.<br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_08lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_08.jpg" alt="Girls make beer better." title="Girls make beer better." border="0"/></a>7:9 God once told the people to be honest and kind and compassionate. They didn't listen and God got mad. He sent them into slavery and left this land desolate. But now we will have chariot spirits and red horse riders and a lot of to and fro action.<br/>
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8:1 God gets so jealous so easily. But at least he is returning and will live with us here in Jerusalem. People will live happily here again and children will play games in the streets like in olden times. It will be exactly like old times. Meanwhile people of all languages everywhere will grab ahold of some Jew's skirt saying "Let us follow you for we have heard that the creator of the entire Universe favors the Jews....all of their history notwithstanding."<br/>
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<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_04lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_04.jpg" alt="I'll just wait here then." title="I'll just wait here then." border="0"/></a>9:1 God will come kill our traditional enemies and then, finally, at long last, we will prosper. There will be plenty of fresh beer to cheer up the young men and fresh wine to cheer up the young women. Young people of both genders will be deliriously cheerful. At last the Jewish people will have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happy hour.<br/>
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11:8 Three shepherds were fired in one month. I broke my staff in half in protest and demanded to be paid my wages. I was given only thirty bucks which I then gave to the church. One day a big killer shepherd will come who will eat their stupid fat flesh and tear them to pieces. That’ll show ‘em. Stupid shepherd bosses.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_05.jpg" alt="I'll just have one beer." title="I'll just have one beer." border="0"/></a><br/>
13:1 Someday God will make us fearsome and clean us up a bit. He will get rid of all the idols. The time will come when parents will kill their children for claiming to be prophets. Prophets will deny being prophets and instead claim to be cowboys.<br/>
</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br/>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Screw-it-Wines/229657503826782" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zech_06.jpg" alt="Treat yourself." title="Treat yourself." border="0"/></a>14:1 The Day of The Lord is coming people! Jews will do battle with all the other nations of the world. The city of Jerusalem will be taken and our treasure plundered and our women raped. Then, when the treasure is all gone, and the women all raped, God will finally come down and kill the people that fought against us. On that day there will no longer be any Canaanites left alive in God's house. Cheers.<br/>
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Next: <i>Lovers and Haters</i><br/>
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/23/the-bible-according-to-brad/">The Bible According to Brad</a></span></p>North Carolina May Declare Official State Religion Under New Billtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-04-03:1982180:BlogPost:12883222013-04-03T15:54:55.000ZRob Klaershttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/RobKlaers
<p><b>The Huffington Post</b><span> | By </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-celock" rel="author">John Celock</a> <span class="follow-author-mini"><a class="twitter-anywhere-user twitter-tooltip" href="http://twitter.com/@JohnCelockHP"></a><a class="fb-tooltip" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/north-carolina-religion-bill_n_3003401.html#"></a></span><span class="posted-and-updated">Posted: <span>04/03/2013 12:22 am EDT</span> | Updated: <span>04/03/2013 10:55 am…</span></span></p>
<p><b>The Huffington Post</b><span> | By </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-celock" rel="author">John Celock</a> <span class="follow-author-mini"><a href="http://twitter.com/@JohnCelockHP" class="twitter-anywhere-user twitter-tooltip"></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/north-carolina-religion-bill_n_3003401.html#" class="fb-tooltip"></a></span><span class="posted-and-updated">Posted: <span>04/03/2013 12:22 am EDT</span> | Updated: <span>04/03/2013 10:55 am EDT</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;">"Republican North Carolina state legislators have proposed allowing an official state religion in a measure that would declare the state exempt from the Constitution and court rulings.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;">The bill, filed Monday by two GOP lawmakers from Rowan County and backed by nine other Republicans, says each state "is sovereign" and courts cannot block a state "from making laws respecting an establishment of religion." The legislation was filed in response to a lawsuit to stop county commissioners in Rowan County from opening meetings with a Christian prayer, wral.com reported.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;">The religion bill comes as some Republican-led states seek to separate themselves from the federal government, primarily on the issues of guns and Obamacare. This includes a proposal in Mississippi to establish a state board with the power to nullify federal laws.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;">The North Carolina bill's main sponsors, state Reps. Carl Ford (R-China Grove) and Harry Warren (R-Salisbury), could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, The Salisbury Post reported. Co-sponsors include House Majority Leader Edgar Starnes (R-Hickory). Another is state Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Concord), who in February introduced a state constitutional amendment that would allow for carrying concealed weapons to fight federal "tyranny."</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;">The bill says the First Amendment only applies to the federal government and does not stop state governments, local governments and school districts from adopting measures that defy the Constitution. The legislation also says that the Tenth Amendment, which says powers not reserved for the federal government belong to the states, prohibits court rulings that would seek to apply the First Amendment to state and local officials."</span><br/> <br/> The rest of the article can be read <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/north-carolina-religion-bill_n_3003401.html" target="_blank">here</a>..</p>Out Of The Randomnesstag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-04-02:1982180:BlogPost:12877152013-04-02T04:00:00.000ZReal Life James Bondhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Skeptic1122
<p>One argument that I tackled in an earlier post was the fine tuning argument. I thought about it for a while, and I thought of one of my interests: Astronomy. I realized that there are thousands of galaxies and millions of stars and planets out there. So are we really "fine tuned"? Why us and not any one of the other millions of planets? Why haven't we found life on other planets? For those of you who do not know much about cosmology or astronomy there is a certain Goldilocks zone that a…</p>
<p>One argument that I tackled in an earlier post was the fine tuning argument. I thought about it for a while, and I thought of one of my interests: Astronomy. I realized that there are thousands of galaxies and millions of stars and planets out there. So are we really "fine tuned"? Why us and not any one of the other millions of planets? Why haven't we found life on other planets? For those of you who do not know much about cosmology or astronomy there is a certain Goldilocks zone that a planet must be in to sustain liquid water. It is called the Goldilocks zone because the planet must have an eccentricity (orbit) of about .2. Kepler came up with a scale for measuring a planet's orbit (his first law: The orbit of every planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci) from a perfect circle to more of an oval (from 0 to 1). A 0 is a perfect circle while you get closer to 1 it becomes more of an oval. So is it by chance that the earth has an eccentricity of .2? Yes. This may be a disturbing and difficult concept for us to grasp, but it is true. Let me demonstrate with an example. Think of your birthday. Let's say that it is today's date April 1st. Imagine you are in a room with one other person, what is the chance that they will have the same birthday as you? Probably very low. As you add more people to the room the chance that someone will have the same birthday as you increases. When there are 34 people in a room with you there is a 4 to 1 chance that someone else will have the same birthday as you. Don't believe me? Try it for yourself. With only 34 people in a room (35 including you) pass around a piece of paper and tell everyone to write down their birthday. You will get at least one other person in the room with the same birthday as you. So what does this prove? This shows us, that if there are millions of planets orbiting suns all over the Universe it is extremely likely that a few of them will be able to sustain intelligent life on them. So now I must ask, where is the fine tuning? This seems more like laws acting around us rather than some supernatural being fine tuning this planet to have intelligent life. With the small amount of space that we have explored, we can conclude that there are more than 4 trillion planets orbiting other suns. With a number like that there must be hundreds of planets that have intelligent life on them. Probably extremely far away from us, father than our telescopes of space ships can take us. However, statistically it is highly probable that we are not alone in this gigantic Universe, and so the fine tuning argument is dead. </p>Prayer As An Answertag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-31:1982180:BlogPost:12869032013-03-31T19:24:12.000ZReal Life James Bondhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Skeptic1122
For hundreds of years it has been thought that this world is a result of God. God made everything we see, hear, touch, etc. but is this really the case? In science, once a theory has been proposed it is tested in a way to try to disprove it. If it cannot be disproved, then it works. Does God work?<br />
In an earlier <a href="http://theburdenofevidence.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/the-universe/">post</a> i took some religious claims and how science has refuted them. In a way I am simply continuing that…
For hundreds of years it has been thought that this world is a result of God. God made everything we see, hear, touch, etc. but is this really the case? In science, once a theory has been proposed it is tested in a way to try to disprove it. If it cannot be disproved, then it works. Does God work?<br />
In an earlier <a href="http://theburdenofevidence.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/the-universe/">post</a> i took some religious claims and how science has refuted them. In a way I am simply continuing that post. However, I want to look at something different: human nature. Why do we do the things we do? Why do we pray? Why do we have these rituals? The answer is easy, yet complex. The easy answer is conditioning. Conditioning is an extremely powerful tool that has been used ever since human beings have existed. There are many psychological studies done on conditioning. I will use an example to explain further. Imagine a baby sitting in a square. Babies are predisposed by nature (like all human beings) to examine their surroundings. If, every time they move to a corner of the square they are given food, they will move toward a corner, rather than a side of the square when they are hungry. So, the baby concludes that the will not get food at. The sides of the square. However, as a parent you can choose to give the baby food when it moves to a side rather than a corner, so the babies conclusion is false. The easy way to explain this is a hot stove (I'm sure that you know where I'm going with this). You feel pain when you touch it and learn not to. This can be applied to groups quite easily and worked more effectively on ancient people. Lets look at prayer. What does prayer do? I always say that prayer is a form of mental masturbation (not to be confused with physical masturbation). Prayer feels great to the person doing it, but does nothing to the person you're thinking of. So why do we pray? There are actually more answers than simply conditioning (although conditioning is a large part of it). If, every time you pray you stubbed your toe, at some point you would associate prayer with stubbing your toe, and you would not do it. Inversely, if every time you pray, you find a dollar on the ground you would pray more and associate prayer with getting money. However, the primary flaw of this kind of reasoning is that correlation does not equal causation. Just like with the baby in the square they found a correlation with corners and food and to them going into a corner causes food to come, but that is incorrect. Just like prayer being the cause of finding a dollar or stubbing your toe is incorrect. Obviously, in the real world, you would not get those results EVERY TIME you pray, but more likely less than half the time. It does not make prayer any less effective to the human mind if it doesn't "work" every time. In fact, it only really has to work once you someone to equate correlation and causation.<br />
I did say there are more reasons that people pray, and they can actually add to the conditioning process FOR prayer being effective and lead people to find conditioning against prayer less effective. One example is nurture. If you are brought up to believe that prayer is true and actually does something, you will be harder to condition out of that frame of mind. Lets take the above example of stubbing your toe when you pray. If you stub your toe 9 or of 10 times you pray, BUT find 10 dollars 1 or of 10 times (and were conditioned by nurture to believe in prayer) then prayer would have worked in your mind. This principle is seen when someone goes to see a psychic. First let me say, there are no real psychics. They use a technique called cold reading. They make vague general statements that apply to almost every human being on the planet (Ex. You are introverted for the most part, but sometimes feel the need to be extroverted -- well duh!). If you do go to get a psychic reading i highly suggest you record the whole thing. Listen to it and count the times that the psychic gets something wrong. I guarantee it will outweigh the times they get something right. So how do they stay in business? When someone goes to a psychic they will often times only remember the things that the psychic gets RIGHT. We will often forget the things they get wrong and focus on what they got right. Why do we do this? We do this for an intrinsic reason, that is we want to believe, we want some greater meaning in our lives. This idea is something that really drives religion. A grater meaning, a greater cause. Convince someone they are more important than they are, and that person will really like you. The same thing with God. If a belief in God makes you feel as though your like means more, or that there is more out there it will fill you with a sense of wonder and awe and will be more inclined to believe it.<br />
There is an overarching problem here. That is all the wonder and awe in the world won't make a falsehood any more real. If feeling good could cure cancer, bring world peace, and feed everyone in the world then we wouldn't have any more wars after the 70's. The facts are that prayer does nothing more than make you feel like you are contributing to a solution to some problem and take up your time. Similar religious rituals are the same way. None of them do anything other than make you feel good, and that does not make it correct. The facts may not fit into the way you see the world, but they are what is true and nothing will change that.Permit Approvedtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-31:1982180:BlogPost:12864422013-03-31T03:30:00.000ZBrad Snowderhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BradSnowder
<p><span style="color: #ffffff;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0000582/combined" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="A rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. - The original Ben Hur film (1907)." border="0" src="http://snowder.com/blog/haggai_01.jpg" title="A rich Jewish merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. - The original Ben Hur film (1907)."></img></a> <b>Zerubbabel and the Temple</b><br></br> Haggai 1:1 to 2:23<br></br></span> <span style="color: #ffffff;"><br></br>
1:1 The word of the Lord as imagined by the prophet Haggai, chief bottle washer and overpaid yes-man to The Mighty Zerubbabel, Prince of Persia, in the province of Judah (rural delivery).<br></br>
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2:3 Some people are saying that it is…</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffffff;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0000582/combined" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://snowder.com/blog/haggai_01.jpg" alt="A rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. - The original Ben Hur film (1907)." title="A rich Jewish merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. - The original Ben Hur film (1907)." border="0"/></a><b>Zerubbabel and the Temple</b><br/> Haggai 1:1 to 2:23<br/>
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1:1 The word of the Lord as imagined by the prophet Haggai, chief bottle washer and overpaid yes-man to The Mighty Zerubbabel, Prince of Persia, in the province of Judah (rural delivery).<br/>
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2:3 Some people are saying that it is not yet time to rebuild the old temple. Meanwhile Haggai comes along. He insists that God has spoken to him in private and officially given the go ahead. God says to place a large order for lumber and get to hammering. He looks forward to the pleasure of living in his fancy new custom-built god-home. He says to be sure and decorate it with lots of gold and silver, those being his favorite materials. And he says to build it way bigger than the last temple, with plenty of closet space. The last temple was too small and smelled like mildew and had a few blast marks from the time God smote us.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/haggai_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/haggai_03.jpg" alt="Temple of Doomed, Part 2" title="Temple of Doomed, Part 2" border="0"/></a><br/>
2:21 The king of Persia put Zerubbabel in charge of the reconstruction of the new temple facility. Who is still alive who remembers the first temple? Wow. Was that a long time ago or what? Sometimes God shakes up the world and rearranges the nations and overturns a chariot or two. God will always overthrow the non-Jewish nations and replace them with something better, especially in the middle east region.<br/>
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2:23 God has specifically chosen our local governor Zerubbabel to be a symbol of Jewish regional political power, subordinate to the Persians of course. So go ahead Jews, unpack your things. The Persian Empire is obviously here to stay so this is it. This is for real this time. Woooot, the promise land, finally! Let's all build a great big new religious facility and get comfortable. Yaay mighty provincial Judah, minor dominion of Persia.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/haggai_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/haggai_02.jpg" alt="When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. Ben-Hur (1959)." title="When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. Ben-Hur (1959)." border="0"/></a><br/>
Next: <i>Young Beer and Fresh Women</i><br/>
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/23/the-bible-according-to-brad/">The Bible According to Brad</a></span></p>Have a Nice Daytag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-24:1982180:BlogPost:12809542013-03-24T05:39:20.000ZBrad Snowderhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BradSnowder
<p><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Less bark, more wag." border="0" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_01.jpg" title="Less bark, more wag." width="250"></img></a> <b>Day of the Lord</b><br></br> Zephaniah 1:1 to 3:20<br></br></span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br></br>
1:1 The word of the Lord which dawned on Zephaniah, who was the son of somebody, who was the son of somebody, who was the son of somebody. <br></br>
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God says he will come and utterly eat everything. A day is coming, a bad day, a real bad day. The Lord's…</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" width="250" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_01.jpg" alt="Less bark, more wag." title="Less bark, more wag." border="0"/></a><b>Day of the Lord</b><br/> Zephaniah 1:1 to 3:20<br/>
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1:1 The word of the Lord which dawned on Zephaniah, who was the son of somebody, who was the son of somebody, who was the son of somebody. <br/>
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God says he will come and utterly eat everything. A day is coming, a bad day, a real bad day. The Lord's Day. It will be a horrible day of terrible suffering. It will be a day of anger and trouble and distress and waste and desolation and darkness and gloominess and clouds and alarms and blindness and poop. <br/>
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<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_02d.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_02d.jpg" alt="God is having a bad day, probably because of you." title="God is having a bad day, probably because of you." border="0"/></a>1:18 You can't buy your way out of it either. <br/>
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2:1 Ye best gather thy shit together. Y’all better look for the Lord before he shows up on his special day all angry and stuff. Better be totally quiet and meek and maybe you can survive by hiding in the bushes or something on The Day of The Lord. <br/>
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2:15 On God's special day he will destroy whole cities. People will mock and make fun and wag their finger at the places where the cities use to be. <br/>
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3:20 After all the destruction and mayhem God will bring back the good old Israel. Then we Jews will be famous and respected. That's what God says.<br/>
<a href="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" width="540" src="http://snowder.com/blog/zeph_04.jpg" alt="Somebody please let me know when it's over." title="Somebody please let me know when it's over." border="0"/></a><br/>
Next: <i>Permit Approved</i><br/>
<a class="T" href="http://skywiseunlimited.com/2012/08/23/the-bible-according-to-brad/">The Bible According to Brad</a></span></p>